Athens, May 23: Unknown assailants tried to burn
down a makeshift mosque in Athens today, injuring five
Bangladeshi migrants who suffered burns and respiratory
problems in the attack, police said.
The attackers broke the windows of a basement flat used
as a mosque early today morning and threw gasoline inside
before lighting it, a police source said.
Four Bangladeshi men suffered respiratory problems and a
fifth was burned, police said. All were initially taken to
hospital but later discharged.
The incident followed clashes in Athens between Muslim
immigrants and Greek police during protests sparked by
allegations that a police officer tore up and stamped on a
Koran during an identity check earlier in the week.
Nearly 1,000 Muslims rallied in the city's central Omonia
square yesterday in a demonstration organised by leftist,
immigrant and anti-racism groups.
Violence broke out at the end of the demonstration as
around 100 protesters threw projectiles at police, who tried
to disperse the crowd with tear gas.
Over seventy cars and five shops were vandalised and the
police arrested 46 people. Seven protestors and seven police
were injured in the clashes.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, May 23, 2009, 14:38