A large-scale police operation is underway in Roma settlements in Ano Liosia and the wider area of ​​Western Attica to identify and arrest the rioters of last night’s riots which resulted in road blockades, fires being lit, and attacks on businesses and public transport vehicles.

Greek police are also conducting operations in Aspropyrgos, in Neoktista.

From the operation in Western Attica, three people have been arrested and a fourth has been remanded during searches of houses, cars, settlements, etc.

In the area of Ano Liosia, police officers from the special units of EKAM, OPKE, as well as MAT riot squads accompanied by patrol cars, are operating inside the settlements and searching houses in order to locate the rioters and the perpetrators of the arson attack on the OASA bus in Phylis Ave.

The operation is being carried out under draconian security measures as in the last few days there has been an uproar in the area due to the serious injury of the 16-year-old Roma by police fire during a pursuit in Thessaloniki after he fled a petrol station, allegedly without paying.

Even city buses were not spared from the wrath of the young Roma. In addition to the bus that they set on fire at the junction of Phylis Avenue and Ioustinianou Street, the protesters also attacked a second bus with stones, causing serious material damage and breaking the windows.

Characteristic of what happened on Wednesday night (7/12) with Roma groups invading tyre businesses on Nato Avenue in Aspropyrgos which they set on fire resulting in a cocktail of fire and pollution that forced the authorities to send a message from 112 in order to inform the residents of the wider area about the danger from the fumes of burning tires.

There were also Roma riots in Kordelio, in Thessaloniki on Wednesday night, when they beat and injured workers in a restaurant because they were told there were no tables available. Protesters took to the streets on Monday, throwing petrol bombs at police.

The teenager filled up his vehicle with €20 (£17) of petrol and then left. CCTV released on Tuesday revealed that four policemen were inside the petrol station at the time.

The 16-year-old drove away chased by police on motorbikes. Police said he then turned his vehicle towards them with the aim of ramming into them.

“I fired once in the air and once towards the vehicle. Colleagues’ lives were at risk,” the 34-year-old officer was quoted as saying. He was later suspended from duty and charged with carrying out the shooting.

News of his shooting prompted protests from the local Roma community outside the hospital in Thessaloniki where the boy had surgery to remove the bullet from his head. Protesters joined friends and relatives at the scene and stones were thrown at police, who responded with stun grenades.