Well over 211 people have been detained after an all-night battle that took part following protest rallies held to commemorate the shooting of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos by a policeman in 2008. Athens turned into a war zone after 8 p.m. with riots breaking out in the streets around Exarhia, the Polytechnic and Omonoia.

Hooded youth went to Exarhia square at 9 p.m. and flung petrol bombs. The police responded to a rain of Molotov cocktails by firing chemicals.

Police chased the rioters for hours using fire extinguishers to attack the protestors and put out fires.

A great deal of conflict took place at Exarhia square and Stournari Street after 9 p.m. on Saturday with Molotov bombs, blasts and chemicals.