Thessaloniki is a “fortress” ahead of Thessaloniki International Fair

Thessaloniki will be transformed into a “fortress” for the next two days, as gatherings of trade unions, anti-authoritarians and anti-vaccinators have been announced.

With Thessaloniki ready to host the 85th International Fair, the city is turning into a fortress, in view of the planned gatherings.

According to the information, the mobilization of the police is expected to be significantly greater compared to previous years.

The reason is, as mentioned above, that among those who have announced protest rallies for the opening day tomorrow, Saturday, are members of the anti-vaccination movement, which appears to have strong momentum in Northern Greece.

Fears of an explosive atmosphere

Police executives estimate that the Opening Day of the TCF will be faced with an explosive mix of protesters, since it is worth mentioning that in a few building blocks, in the center of Thessaloniki have announced for the Saturday afternoon concentrations of anti-digiters, far-right, anti-authoritarians, extra-parliamentary Left organizations, trade unions.

According to information from “Kathimerini”, police officers of the Attica Police Operations Directorate moved to Thessaloniki in the previous two twenty-four hours in order to take part in the broader police measures.

These are 12 squads of the Order Keeping Sub-Directorate (YMET) and 10 squads of the Order Restoration Sub-Directorate (YAT). They traveled to Thessaloniki on Wednesday and Thursday at the behest of the leadership in order to assist the work of their colleagues, of the General Police Directorate of Thessaloniki. The same route was taken by two water cannon vehicles, known as “Aias”, which will be used in case of generalized incidents in the city center.

Barrage of demonstrations

The beginning will be made at 09:00 on Saturday morning by the police of Thessaloniki, who will gather in HANTH (YMCA) square, protesting against staff and infrastructure shortages.

From 18:00 in the afternoon the unions will be at the Statue of Venizelos, the members of communist party affiliated union PAME will converge on HANTH square, and the organizations of the extra-parliamentary left and anti-authoritarians will gather in Kamara.

Those who react to the coronavirus vaccination will gather at the White Tower.

The plan of the police

The Greek Police have prepared a plan of pressing surveillance of the protesters of all groups, while motorcycle police officers in the area of ​​Toumpa located dozens of Molotov cocktails in garbage cans.

Already, municipal officials are removing rubbish bins, building materials and other items from the streets of Thessaloniki that could be used as ammunition in attacks on police.

As of Saturday morning, 5,500 police officers will be on foot, while other units have been put on alert.

Special water cannon vehicles, known as Aias, are on standby, while helicopters and drones will monitor from the air.

The operations center of the Hellenic Police will receive information and images from police officers who will have been strategically placed on the roofs of buildings in key parts of the city.

According to information, the National Intelligence Agency, the Counter-Terrorism Service and the State Security are strengthening the information network in order to carry out preventive investigations and apprehensions of suspects.