Lesbos Police authorities are pressing charges against 17 locals for their involvement in the racist attacks against refugees and migrants on Sunday.
The incident took place at Sappho Square, where refugees had been engaged in a five-day peaceful protest, requesting the acceleration of asylum procedures. They were attacked by a mob of 200 locals, including members of the “Patriotic Movement”, alongside ‘Golden Dawn’ members and local businessmen, armed with rocks, metal scraps and flareguns.
The refugees had made a human chain to protect the women and the children from the mob. The attackers were reported changing “burn them alive.” More than 35 people were taken to hospital, as a result, most of them suffering head injuries from hurled objects.
According to reports, the mob was protected by the police, which intervened and stood between the two groups. After the incident 120 asylum seekers were arrested, a motion that was met with furore by human rights activists.
However, a frew days later, the authorities managed to identify 17 of the perpetrators; five of them will be facing felony charges, specifically arson and attempted serious body harm, while twelve more are accused with misdemeanors, such as rioting.
The police continue to investigate the cases and local media report that more charges are to be filed in the following days.