Athens: Greek police warned people to stay away from central Athens today as students prepared new protests over the police killing of a teenager.

Tensions were raised after the 16-year son of a Greek teacher s union official was hit in an air rifle attack yesterday night in an Athens suburb.

The youth was only lightly injured in the hand but after almost two weeks of unrest and protests after the fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos, police quickly denied any involvement in the new incident.

The youth was hit in the hand as he talked with other students in the street in Peristeri, according to police.

Greek students planned new marches in Athens and several other cities and authorities took widespread precautions to avoid a repeat of some of the riots and looting of the past two weeks.

Police cleared streets around the centre of the capital and told residents not to venture out during the demonstrations.

Two youth protests have been called. One was to start in front of Athens University and the other in Omonia Square.

Both were to advance toward the Greek parliament, which has been the scene of many of the protests over the death of Grigoropoulos.

Two Greek trade unions, including a teachers union, said they support the student protests.

Planned strikes and protests organised by a public employees union over the Greek budget and anti-racism demonstrations were expected to add to the turmoil.

Rallies were also planned in the second city of Thessaloniki, Patras in the south and Preveza in the west.
Source : PTI