Athens protests teen’s death by police 8 years on

ATHENS (AA) – A march by anti-establishment activist groups to mark eight years since the shooting death of a teenager by police in 2008, turned violent Tuesday.

An estimated 1,500 demonstrators took part in the annual march for Alexis Grigoropoulos in central Athens.

The march began peacefully with students and school unions participating but deteriorated after a group of protesters set fire to a parked car in Exarchia, set up roadblocks on nearby streets and threw Molotov cocktails at police.

The same group also vandalized pavement slaps, set garbage bins on fire and broke traffic lights.

Police fired tear gas at protesters and 23 people have been detained and taken to police headquarters.

Grigoropoulos, 15, was killed Dec. 6, 2008 in Exarchia -- an area in central Athens popular with anarchist groups.

Officer Epaminondas Korkoneas was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.