Parade behind closed doors…

"This year's parade in Syntagma is equivalent to Polytechneio for the police, and within this framework we have devised our plan. Whoever exceeds the limits will be arrested, if some extremist groups try to break up the parade, riot police will make use of their batons and chemicals, while we will proactively check individuals who are carrying backpacks. We are looking for molotovs, tomatoes, yoghurts and eggs...".

 

These were the words used by a police officer to describe briefly to protothema.gr the police plans for the March 25 parade in Syntagma. According to reports, the mandate given by the generals is that the parade must take place at all costs. The platform of the officials will be a sterile site and nobody will be able to come close.

 

For the first time there will be invitations and accreditations for journalists to get closer to the spot, as for all other citizens it will be a forbidden area. Along the parade there will be police forces that will make their presence felt, and what causes concern is the fact that police will have tear gas, batons and stun-flash grenades at their disposal.

 

There are consecutive meetings at the ministry of Citizen Protection, and what is being reiterated is that events similar to those in Thessaloniki should not happen. For this reason, more than 7,000 police officers from Attiki with 40 squads of riot police will be operating in the area of Syntagma.

 

 

Only the duty officer, the necessary patrols and guards will be available at local police stations, while the DI.AS. and Delta teams will be in full deployment, with a Police helicopter coordinating the investigations by air. Right from the beginning of the week the State Security and anti-terror police have been decoding suspect signals and information from right-wing groups or anti-authoritarians who may try to creep into the crowd of people to cause trouble and riots.

 

Finally, it should be noted that rumors about a specific evacuation plan in the event of episodes, booing, object throwing, etc., for the safe escape of the officials, were dismissed in an announcement from Police Headquarters.

 

 

Police in Thessaloniki intend to guard heavily the location of ​​the traditional parades for the national anniversaries of October 28 and March 25 on Alexander the Great Avenue.

 

They seem to have learned their lesson from October 28, and security measures will be very strict for a smooth parade on Sunday.

 

Their plan aims to keep protesters at a safe distance and avoid suspension of the parade, and there are orders for no tolerance of any incidents similar to those of October 28.

 

From Kallidopoulou Street, where the platform has been erected, and at a length of 2 km on either side, there will be rails to prevent intrusion into the roadway, while police officers will be located along the avenue with orders for arrests in the case of attempted riots.