Extremist attack at the Tanzanian community centre in Athens

Alert DateSeptember 25, 2012 Country: Greece Address: Lemesou 1, Kipseli General Type: Racist violence Racism and discrimination phenomena: Extremism - organised Racist Violence, Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Afrophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Africans/black people Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Daily life

Related Alerts

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Cameroonian, Tanzanian
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 11
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender Male, Female
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 90
Extremist/Organised Group Violence Yes

As it is refered on UNHCR Greece portal (http://1againstracism.gr/index.php/en/startpage), on the evening of Tuesday, September 25th, the Tanzanian community office was violently attacked by a group of 60 persons. 

As it is reported by eye-witnesses on 1againstracism.gr, the previous day (24.09.2012, 23:00) a group of 30 persons, called "Committee of Kipseli residents", entered the bar of a Cameroonian immigrant to control of his papers and threatened him, should he refuse to close his bar. Then, the group went to the Tanzanian community premises (1, Lemesou str. Kipseli) proceeding again to an unofficial licence control. Once the relevant documents were presented, two of the 30 attackers threatened those gathered to close the centre. 

The next day (25.09.2012), a group of 60 persons visited again the bar, causing several damages. They headed to the Tanzanian community centre, where 10 persons were present and called the police. The policemen led those gathered in the centre out of the building. However, around 3:00 in the morning, the extremists came back and ravaged the place.

The president of the Tazmanian community, filed a complaint to the authorities. "It is important that the entire planet undestands what we live here. We have received threats, even with a gun many times before, "he told 1againstracism.gr [1, 2 & 3].

Sources:

  1. UNHCR Greece, 26.09.2012, Ρατσιστική επίθεση στην κοινότητα της Τανζανίας στην Κυψέλη (Racist attack to the Tanzanian community in Kipseli), http://1againstracism.gr/index.php/el/rss/item/846--------, Accessed on 01.10.2012.
  2. News247, 28.09.2012, Ρατσιστική επιδρομή στην Κοινότητα Τανζανίας στην Κυψέλη (Racist assault to the Tanzanian community in Kypseli), http://news247.gr/eidiseis/koinonia/ratsistikh_epidromh_sthn_koinothta_tanzanias_sthn_kypselh.1946439.html, Accessed on 01.10.2012.
  3. ASANTE Press Release, 26.09.2012,  Violent attack by Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) against the Tanzanian Community in the Kipseli district of Athens on the evening of Tuesday 25 September, http://www.asante.gr/component/content/article/2-asante/1770-2012-09-26-18-27-22.html, Accessed on 01.10.2012.