Riot police on the Greek island of Lesbos yesterday fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters against the creation of a new detention centre for migrants as the latest outburst of unrest entered a second day.
The Athens government infuriated residents of five Aegean islands – all straddling a key route to Europe used by thousands of migrants – by announcing two weeks ago that it would expedite the construction of secured detention centres to replace open-access, severely overcrowded camps.
Locals residents – who are are concerned such an arrangement could become permanent – tried to approach a site earmarked for a new migrant centre and clashed with police on a road winding through a forest.
A demonstrator, who opposes the building of a new closed migrant detention centre, kicks a tear gas canister during clashes with riot police outside a military camp housing police officers, near the village of Pagani on the island of Lesbos
A demonstrator throws a stone toward riot police officers during protests against the construction of a new controversial migrant camp near the town of Mantamados on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos
Demonstrators, who oppose the building of a new closed migrant detention centre, clash with riot police outside a military camp housing police officers, near the village of Pagani on the island of Lesbos
Greek riot police face demonstrators during protests against the construction of a new controversial migrant camp near the town of Mantamados on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos
Riot police on the Greek island of Lesbos today fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters against the creation of a new detention centre for migrants. A police officer is pictured running away from flames from a petrol bomb
The Athens government infuriated residents of five Aegean islands by announcing two weeks ago that it would expedite the construction of secured detention centres to replace open-access, severely overcrowded camps. A protester kicks a tear gas canister thrown by riot police during clashes
Locals residents – who are are concerned such an arrangement could become permanent – tried to approach a site earmarked for a new migrant centre and clashed with police on a road winding through a forest
Protesters launched petrol bombs which burst into flames, threw rocks and kicked back gas canisters as the clash escalated.
‘More than 1,000 people protesting at the new facility… threw stones at police, smashing their helmets. Police were forced to use chemicals,’ a police spokesman said, using a euphemism for tear gas.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people gathered in the town of Mytilene on Lesbos as part of a general strike to protest at government plans to create the new closed migrant facility.
On Tuesday, locals used vehicles and rubbish trucks to try to block police reinforcements and heavy machinery in a port.
Protesters threw rocks, lit fires and kicked back gas canisters thrown by police as the clash escalated. A man gestures as he hold stones during clashes with Greek anti-riot police
A protester kicks away a gas cannister during clashes with Greek anti-riot police during a protest against the construction of a new controversial migrant camp
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people gathered in the town of Mytilene on Lesbos as part of a general strike to protest at government plans to create the new closed migrant facility. A protester throws a stone during clashes
Greek riot police walking through a forest with shields and gas masks after being forced to fire tear gas to disperse protesters
A riot policeman throws a tear gas canister at local protesting residents during clashes in Karava
Riot police marched in formation and used tear gas and flash grenades on residents. At least three people on Chios, including the mayor and a priest, were rushed to hospital last night after suffering breathing difficulties due to the toxic fumes.
The Athens government says the closed centres will offer greater security and safety to both asylum seekers and local residents, and plans to build them on the islands of Samos, Kos, Leros and Chios in addition to Lesbos.
Locals say the islands are carrying a disproportionate burden from a migrant crisis that began in 2015 when more than one million people fled violence in the Middle East and beyond via Turkey, reaching Greece and then moving on to wealthier central and northern Europe, their preferred destinations.
Border closures imposed since then along the migrant corridor through the Balkans and central Europe north of Greece have left many thousands of later arrivals marooned on Greek islands near Turkey.
Greek anti-riot police march along a road as they clash with as demonstrators protesting against the construction of a new controversial migrant camp near the town of Mantamados
A resident is pictured throwing a large stone towards riot police during the chaos as it entered a second day
Riot police fire gas during a major clash with the people of Lesbos as they protest against the new migrant camp
emonstrators, who oppose the building of a new closed migrant detention centre, throw rocks in the direction of riot police
A demonstrator, who opposes the building of a new closed migrant detention centre, prepares to throw a petrol bomb
A demonstrator, who opposes the building of a new closed migrant detention centre, throws a rock at riot police
Several tear gas canisters billow with smoke as demonstrators gather near the town of Mantamados on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos
Riot police arrest protestants amid the chaos of demonstrations near the town of Mantamados on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos
A protester throws a petrol bomb against riot police during clashes in Diavolorema near the area where the government plans to build a new migrant detention center
A demonstrator kicks back a tear gas canister at riot police as the riots carried on for a second day