The historic trial of ultranationalist Golden Dawn President and Holocaust denier Nikos Mihaloliakos and another 68 people, including party MPs, began on Monday in a specially adapted courtroom in Korydallos Prison.  The investigation into the party’s activities, launched following the murder of leftist rapper Pavlos Fyssas by George Roupakias on September 18, 2013, in Keratsini, Piraeus found links with party members that had coordinated their actions on that evening with instructions sent to Roupakias.

Protestors gathered outside the prison from early on Monday morning at the start of the trial that is expected to run for as long as 2 years. Security is high around Solomou, Hozoviotissis, Nikiforidis and Grigoriou Lambraki streets.

2oo GD supporters gathered shortly after 9 a.m. at Aristarhou Street whereas 4,000 members of anti-fascist organizations are currently at Grigoriou Lambraki Street.

Schools in the area have shut down due to problems that had been anticipated in the area.