Greek police used tear gas against the inhabitants of Lesbos and Chios Islands, who tried to prevent the unloading of construction equipment for the construction of camps for migrants, reported the Athens News Agency AMNA.
Police reported that equipment arrived at the islands during the night.
“In the early morning hours today, construction equipment was unloaded at the ports of Mitylini (Lesbos) and Meston on Chios to begin work on the construction of new closed guarded detention centres (migrants). Police forces accompanied the equipment and personnel to start work without problems”, – the police said.
There are up to 150 thousand migrants and refugees in Greece who have received or requested asylum. Most of the migrants are Afghans.
Earlier, the Greek government said it intends to begin construction of closed camps for refugees and illegal migrants in March, so that in summer they have already earned. Land plots are being requisitioned for the camps. On five islands there will be five camps for 20 thousand places, refugees will be kept there for three months while their application for asylum is being considered.
AMNA reports that the arrival of the equipment was accompanied by riots.
“The port of Mitilini turned into a battlefield at night for almost two hours. Ten special police units that had arrived at the port on the Pegasus, together with police forces already on the island, clashed with hundreds of locals who had gathered to prevent the equipment from unloading. Police used tear gas and light-noise grenades”, – the agency said.
After unloading, the equipment headed towards Kawakli and Karawa, where construction is planned.
There have also been clashes on Chios in the port of Mesta.
The mayor of Stamatis Carmantzis and a priest, chairman of the association of the priests of Chios, were affected by the tear gas and went to the hospital for help.
Police have sent water cannons to the port, the agency reported.