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Youths with hammers smash stores in Greece

Dozens of youths carrying sledgehammers and iron bars have smashed cars, banks and storefronts in an upscale district of central Athens in the latest outbreak of violence in Greece.
Image: Vandalism in Athens
Shop owners and employees stand outside their vandalized shops in the shopping district in central Athens, Greece, after about 30 hooded youths smashed the windows.Orestis Panagiotou / EPA
/ Source: The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece — Dozens of youths carrying sledgehammers and iron bars have smashed cars, banks and storefronts in an upscale district of central Athens in the latest outbreak of violence in Greece.

Several dozen stores and cars were damaged in the daytime attack, which sent shoppers and bystanders in the city's Kolonaki area fleeing in panic.

Leaflets scattered at the scene Friday identified the attackers as members of local anarchist groups.

Second attack
A similar attack also occurred Friday in the northern city of Thessaloniki, leaving three banks damaged.

Violence involving anarchist youths has escalated following riots last December that were sparked by the fatal police shooting of a teenage boy.