Police clash with anti-refugee protesters in Greece

Clashes have erupted in Greece between police and a group of far-right protesters who were demonstrating against the influx of refugees into and the growing presence of Muslims in the country.

Scuffles broke out in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, on Monday.

The protesters were predominantly members of the right-wing group “Sacred Band.”

Meanwhile, a group of around 200 pro-refugees, known as antifa, held a counter-demonstration nearby. The latter rally was organized by the Movement against Racism and the Threat of Fascism (KEERFA).

A large number of police officers were deployed to prevent possible clashes between the two groups.

Greece has been struggling to cope with the huge number of refugees pouring into the country.

On Sunday, Greece started evacuating refugees from a major camp on the Macedonia border.

More than a million refugees, most of them taking the sea route between Turkey and Greece, crossed into Europe in 2015, creating the worst refugee crisis for the continent in decades.

SS