The political leadership of the Ministry of Citizens’ Protection proceeded with the immediate “punishment” of seven senior officials of the National Police after it emerged that there was concrete information about the arrival of Croatian “fans” of Dinamo Zagreb in Greece, but they did not take any deterrent measures.
Sports Violence Analysts informed all relevant services of the Greek police within two days, incl. and in writing that at least 100 Croatian fans of Dinamo Zagreb would arrive in Athens by agreement with Panathinaikos fans, but in the end they could not prevent the tragedy at the AEK stadium in Athens.
Secret newsletters show that an outbreak of violence was about to happen, but no one was able to control the situation, as it turned out that Greek and Croatian police officers had been in open contact for several days about the arrival of “thugs from Zagreb”.
At the same time, a second briefing note from Fighting Sports Violence analysts, dated yesterday, said there would be a crowd of fans at Nea Philadelphia on Monday night, indicating greater danger.
In the first classified briefing note by experienced members of the Sports Violence Unit dated 6/8/2023 titled “Evaluation of the football match AEK – GNK Dinamo Zagreb” in relation to information received from foreign authorities”, the following is noted: “On Tuesday 8/8/2023 at 21:45, a football match of the 3rd qualifying round will be held at the OPAP ARENA stadium Champions League between AEK – GNK Dinamo Zagreb. According to the Croatian National Information Bureau, about 100 GNK Dinamo Zagreb fans are expected to come to our country.
According to information received by our service from a reliable and constantly verified source, a sufficient number will arrive in our country – about 100 organized fans of GNK Dinamo Zagreb – BAD BLUE BOYS, some of which will be placed with the fans of the Panathinaikos team, with which they are twinned and maintain excellent relationships and communication, and some in various Airbnb apartments, located mainly in the Alexandros Avenue area.
In addition, a small number of them can be accommodated at the headquarters of Panathinaikos FC at 115 Alexandros Avenue, which is expected to be open in the evening hours of 7/8/2023, and a sufficient number of people can gather there.
The next day, 7 August 2023, in a second newsletter called “Score: Α3. Football match AEK – GNK Dinamo Zagreb” and attached documents from the POL system. with numbers 2592/23/155 1500 dated 7/8/2023 and 2592/23/155 7584 dated 7/8/2023″available to NewsIT, states the following:
“Following the above relevant and according to new information obtained by our service from open sources, the organized fans of the AEK Athens team are calling on the fans of the team to gather in the open horseshoe of the OPAP ARENA stadium today from 19:00, under the pretext of distributing season tickets.” In terms of action, the document states the following: “Our department is monitoring developments, and if there is any news, we will provide additional information.”
Minister for the Protection of Citizens, Yiannis Ikonomou, has been more than clear about the responsibility of the competent police services in the case of the murder of 29-year-old Michalis Katsouris: “This event is unacceptable and unacceptable because it is clearly below the capabilities and proven ability of the Greek police, which, although making rapid progress in pursuing and arresting 98 people, failed in the field of prevention and containment.”.
https://rua.gr/news/procrim/56947-krovavyj-iskhod-napadeniya-fanatov-zagrebskogo-dinamo-na-bolelshchikov-afinskogo-aeka.html
Statement by the Minister for Citizens’ Protection:
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased. To the young guy who died unjustifiably, not to mention in vain. Sport is not a place for violence, and sportsmanship should not be tainted with bigotry. Unfortunately, despite great efforts, especially after the murder of Alkis Kabanos, we have not yet been able to defeat fan violence. We will continue to work in this direction, more systematically and more intensively. But obviously, we need much more, and at all levels: sports, educational, educational, political and, more broadly, social.
Now is the time for cooperation and effort, not for conflicts and confrontations that do nothing: they do not reveal, do not offer solutions, but rather obscure and hide the problem. This is a deep, radical and pan-European problem, because in this case it involves supporters from different countries, who have formed international networks of violence and are active in many countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLeonZpbWq8
The government and the competent authorities, led by the national police, are taking all necessary measures and are constantly consulting with all parties concerned, as important UEFA matches are to take place on Greek soil in the coming hours and days.
As for the fact that the fans of Dinamo Zagreb crossed the Greek border, their movement through the territory of Greece and their final arrival at the scene of the incidents, I will not hide:This development is unacceptable and unacceptable as it is clearly not in line with the capabilities and proven ability of the Greek police, which, although they moved quickly to arrest and detain 98 people, failed in the field of prevention and deterrence. That is why I instructed the chief EL.ASLieutenant General Lazaros Mavropoulos, immediately proceed with the following actions:
1. The head of the Sub-Directorate for Combating Violence at Sports Venues must immediately removed from office and areas of responsibility, and placed at the disposal of GADA.
2. Immediately withdraw from their areas of responsibility and transfer to the disposal of the relevant departments, until the completion of the relevant investigation, the heads of the Department of the traffic police of Ioannina, Department C’ of the traffic police of the Antirio-Ioannina motorway, Department “B” of the traffic police of the Antirion-Ioannina motorway, Department “A” of the traffic police of the Antirion-Ioannina motorway, Pate of the traffic police of the Achaia motorway and Pate of the traffic police of the Corinth motorway.
3. Of course, it is clear that the transfers and layoffs associated with this incident will not end there.
That is why, at the same time, I instructed the Chief of the Hellenic Police to conduct and complete an internal investigation as soon as possible in order to fully investigate the incidents from the moment the fans entered Greece and onward, so that appropriate responsibility can be determined and assigned at all levels and in any form. . The investigation will be entrusted today to one of the senior officers of the Greek police.
In conclusion, I would like to assure you that there is a strong political will to ensure that, with a lot of hard work, the Hellenic Police Service will meet the demands of society in the field of fan violence. But at the same time, this requires comprehensive efforts at all levels.”
The order for a preliminary investigation into the attack in Nea Philadelphia on Monday evening was given by the Attorney of the Supreme Court, George Adilini, to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office of Appeal and First Instance.
In particular, Ms. Adilini asks the prosecutor’s office to ensure “thorough control over the case, a deep and complete investigation, as well as an exhaustive collection of the necessary evidence in order to identify the perpetrator of the murder with intent, on the one hand, and to investigate the commission of other crimes, on the other hand” .
The Prosecutor of the Supreme Court also asks to investigate, on the basis of press reports, the fact that “Croats were seen on the highway by ELAS officers and taken under covert surveillance, but managed to escape and arrived at the scene of the crime.”
Detailed order of the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court:
“Mr. Prosecutor of the Athens Court of Appeal
mr. Prosecutor of the Athens District Attorney’s Office
In connection with the serious incidents-events of severe “fan violence” that occurred on Monday evening 7-8-2023 in N. Philadelphia, at the stadium of the AEK football club (relevant publications are attached), accompanied by violent clashes, destruction around the stadium, firebombs mixture, batons, etc., as a result of which many fans were injured and even one of the AEK fans died, we ask you, acting within your functional competence, to conduct an urgent preliminary investigation, and also to control, in accordance with Article 32 of the Civil Procedure of the Code, both this and the preliminary investigation already carried out ex officio by the competent police authorities, to ensure a thorough and complete investigation of the case, as well as an exhaustive collection of the necessary evidence in order, firstly, to identify the perpetrator of the murder with intent, on the other hand, to investigate the commission other crimes, such as organizing a criminal community (art. 187 of the Criminal Code), incitement to commit crimes (Article 184 of the Criminal Code), disturbance of the peace (Article 189 of the Criminal Code), explosion (Article 270, paragraph 1), manufacture and storage of explosives (Article 272 of the Criminal Code), dangerous and grievous bodily harm (Articles 309, 310 CC), assault (Article 313 CC), damage to foreign property (Article 378 CC), violation of the Weapons Act (Law 2168/93) in combination, where applicable, with the provisions of Article 41 F of Law no. 2725/1999, etc.
In order to identify and arrest the perpetrators of the above actions, it is necessary to exhaust all legal procedural means, including those provided for in Article 254 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Investigate also how, although, according to the attached electronic press reports, the Croats were found on the highway by ELAS officers and placed under covert surveillance, they managed to escape and arrive at the scene of the crime.
Finally, to ensure, among other things, the presence of a prosecutor during the match between AEK Athens FC and Dinamo Zagreb in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.”
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