Post date: Nov 02, 2013 11:50:2 AM
Greeks express shock and concern following the killing of two people outside an office of the far right Golden Dawn party.
ATHENS, GREECE (NOVEMBER 2, 2013) (REUTERS) - Greeks on Saturday (November 2) expressed concern over the killing of two people outside the offices of the far right Golden Dawn party in a drive-by shooting, which raises fears of an escalation of violence in the crisis-wracked country.
The men, aged 22 and 27, were gunned down at a time of growing public anger against Golden Dawn and a government crackdown on the party after the killing of a left wing musician, Pavlos Fissas, in September, by a sympathiser of Golden Dawn.
A third 29-year-old man was seriously injured and is in critical condition in hospital. The killing took place in the Athens northern suburb of Neo Iraklio, on a busy street during the evening rush hour, police said.
"We suddenly heard some bangs. At first we did not pay much attention, but we saw a lot of movement on the street, so we came outside and there were a whole lot of people and a lot of panic. Then we saw a lot of movement - police arriving and fire engines as well, which came very quickly," said town councillor Ilias Barbas, who also owns a pharmacy on the same street and was there at the time of the shooting. Barbas expressed fear over the latest cycle of violence following the murder of Fissas.
"Unfortunately, in Greece, in the year 2013, there is a war going on that we cannot see. We now have two killed, last month we had another man that was murdered, and we are unfortunately living through a situation that is unprecedented for Greek society," he said, referring to Fissas.
"How can one believe such a thing? Who can believe it? It is hard to believe that such a thing took place," said neighbour and witness Kalliope Larvatzi.
"On Mondays and Fridays they gather here, and you can't move here. They would wear helmets and brass knuckles, as if they were ready for a war. And I would go home through a side lane because it was terrifying, frightening," said neighbourMaria Sotirkou of the Golden Dawn members that used to gather at the office.
Newspapers splashed headlines expressing concern that the killing could be an attempt to destabilise the country as it struggles through an economic crisis and public anger is high over austerity.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the force suspected unnamed anti-establishment groups, and was satisfied the attack was not linked to a personal dispute.
Golden Dawn, which stormed into parliament last year on an anti-immigrant agenda, said it had asked for police protection at its offices after receiving threats. The party, which rode a wave of anger against austerity imposed to cope withGreece's financial crisis, has seen several senior members arrested in an investigation into accusations it was involved in attacks and criminal activities, after a sympathiser for the party stabbed and killed Fissas on an Athens street.
The government has in the past promised to wipe out a party it describes as a "neo-Nazi gang".
Fears of rising political violence in crisis-hit Greece also flared in January, when unidentified attackers opened fire on the Athens headquarters of the co-ruling New Democracy party with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.