Greek island residents went on 24-hour strike for a second day on Thursday, stepping up protests against government plans for new migrant camps on five islands after violent clashes with police, SIA reports citing foreign media.
Greece's eastern Aegean Islands served as the gateway to the European Union for more than one million people fleeing war in 2015-2016. Despite a sharp drop in arrivals since then, five islands are still struggling with overcrowded migrant centres and demand those be moved mainland. Hundreds of residents attacked police officers guarding the sites of the future detention camps on the islands of Lesvos and Chios on Wednesday. A large crowd later laid siege for hours to a Lesvos army camp where riot-control squads were billeted.
Dozens of police officers were injured during the unrest, and the Greek government's spokesman said many of the riot police deployed to the islands this week would be pulled out. Government migration officials have vowed to press ahead with plans to replace overcrowded and squalid migrant camps with more restrictive detention centres. But local officials and residents oppose the plans, with many demanding that no migrants should remain on the islands.
One man was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack and another was being sought. Police said 10 protesters were injured on both islands.
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