Riots break out in Greece after policeman shoots teenager

Source: Xinhua | 12-08-2008 07:59

ATHENS, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Riots broke out in Athens and other Greek cities in the early hours on Sunday after a teenager was allegedly killed by police the previous night.

A couple runs to escape a fire from a bus station booth during riots in Athens Dec. 7, 2008. Riots raged in  several cities after police shot dead a teenage boy in the Greek capital, in the Mediterranean nation's worst civil disturbances in years. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Demonstrators took to the streets in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra and other cities in Greece, setting fires to cars and damaging banks and shops.

Riots continued through Sunday morning in central Athens. A group of demonstrators threw stones and Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas.

The 16-year-old boy was shot in the chest in the Athens district of Exarhia on Saturday night during a clash between police and a group of 30 youths who are members of leftist, anti-establishment groups. The boy died shortly after being taken to hospital.