Major Rioting in Greece (12/24/08)

• Greece has acquired an advanced security system from the United States.
  A leading U.S. firm has delivered a command, control, communications, coordination and integration system to Greek authorities. Science Applications International Corp. said the C4I system would coordinate police, coast guard, fire and ambulance services. "System acceptance is an important milestone in the implementation of this state-of-the-art system, and properly recognizes the tremendous efforts of the Greek state and SAIC to deliver an effective solution," SAIC executive vice president Donald Foley said.

• Here's another installment of the detailed and illuminating daily reports "dim" has been posting on the situation in Athens.
  

• From a conservative Athens newspaper: Hundreds of self-professed anarchists who have been squatting in university buildings over the past two weeks were reportedly packing their bags. According to sources, the premises of the National Technical University of Athens and the Athens University law school were slowly emptying.

  University rectors were due to start taking stock today of the damage wreaked during the sit-ins. Sources said windows had been smashed and chunks had been hacked out of marble staircases and floors for use as missiles against riot police.

• An anarchist group calling itself Nocturnal Arson Insurrection yesterday claimed responsibility for a bomb blast targeting the offices of far-right party LAOS in the coastal suburb of Alimos during yesterday’s early hours. The homemade device, comprising several gas canisters, caused damage when it detonated, but no injuries were reported.

• From the International Herald Tribune: "Ballistics tests show two military-type automatic rifles were used in an attack on a riot-police bus in Athens, authorities said Wednesday.

  While street violence sparked by the police shooting of a teenager has eased, the discovery raised fears that far-left extremist groups may be taking advantage of the unrest to renew attacks on the police. Despite a lull in violence over the past few days, protesters have vowed to keep on the streets.
  

  "Christmas is off this year, the Virgin had an abortion," read a slogan painted on a central Athens wall.

  On Christmas Eve Wednesday, about 700 mainly young protesters marched peacefully through Athens' main shopping district to demand the release of those arrested during the rioting. Demonstrators sang carols with protest lyrics and scattered fliers, as dozens of riot police looked on.

  Chanting "Priests, thieves, pedophiles," protesters sprayed slogans on metal boardings outside Athens Cathedral, painted anarchist logos on the 19th century building's marble columns and tore down a Greek flag.
  

  Cathedral officials said they were canceling a scheduled Christmas Eve service after the vandalism.

  Riot police cordoned off central Syntagma Square to protect the capital's main Christmas tree, which replaces one burnt by rioters two weeks ago. However, the protest ended without further incident."