Athens: More than 3,000 protesters chanting "Cops, Pigs, Murderers" marched through Athens amid fears of continued violence over the death of a teenage boy in a police shooting.

Earlier yesterday, shots were fired with an automatic rifle at a riot police bus in Athens. None of the 19 officers on board was injured, authorities said, but the attack raised concern that violence against police could escalate.

"The incident concerns us but we are handling it calmly," police spokesman Panayiotis Stathis said.

The death of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigopoulos on December 6 triggered Greece's worst riots in decades, leaving hundreds of stores damaged or destroyed around the country. The capital has been quiet since late Saturday.

Police said the bus came under attack in Athens while passing a university campus. Authorities said they had recovered seven 7.62-millimeter bullet casings. They said the unknown gunman had fired from inside the campus grounds, hitting the vehicle in the engine and one tire.

Under Greek law, police are prohibited from entering the grounds of universities without special approval by academic authorities or a public prosecutor.

Yesterday's march kept many stores in downtown Athens closed, as shopowners feared a repeat of the recent smashing, burning and looting.

A group of youths overturned a police car, but the incident ended without further violence.

Protesters set fire to a papier-mache model of a pig s head wearing a policeman's hat, before the rally ended peacefully.

Another protest is planned today, Christmas Eve, in the city's main shopping district.

Source : PTI