Funeral Of Teen Killed In Police Firing Triggers Riots In Greece

The funeral of the teenager who was killed in a police firing in the weekend has sparked off riots across Athens and other major Greek cities on Tuesday, said officials and media reports.

The teenager, Alexandros Grigoropoulos aged 15, was shot dead by a police officer on Saturday, and since then Greece has witnessed four-days of violent protests across the country.

Violence broke out across the capital city of Athens on Tuesday as Grigoropoulos' funeral was progressing in the southern coastal suburb of Paleo Faliro.

Tuesday's protests started off peacefully with thousands of teachers, schoolchildren and parents held a peaceful demonstration to protest against the killing.

However, the demonstrations gradually turned violent as the protesters began clashing with riot police outside the country's parliament shouting anti-government slogans.

Police resorted to firing teargas at the protesters after hundreds of teenagers began throwing stones and bottles at the riot police. The violent protests then began spreading to other parts of the country as well, with the police struggling to contain them.

Though the officer who shot Grigoropoulos has said that the bullet that killed the teenager was a ricochet from a warning shot, witnesses say that the officer shot directly at the teenager.

Since Grigoropoulos's killing, the Greek government has charged two police officers in connection with his death, one with premeditated manslaughter and another as an accomplice.

by RTTNews Staff Writer

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