Athens, Greece — A brutal attack on Wednesday by masked assailants at the University of Athens Law School has sparked intense debate over campus safety and the efficacy of police responses in educational settings. The incident unfolded during a career event organized by the ruling New Democracy party’s student group, drawing around 50 participants, including students, professors, and diplomats.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene when eight individuals clad in black, equipped with helmets and batons, burst into the facility during a break. Emeritus professor Ioannis Mazis recounted seeing them approach in a “commando style,” adding that their voices and demeanor suggested they were in their 20s.
In a troubling turn of events, a doctoral candidate attempting to thwart the intruders was severely assaulted. “They struck him repeatedly on the head for several minutes,” noted Ioannis Saridakis, vice president of the department. “He is fortunate to have survived.” Blood was reported on the hallway and classroom floors, with the injured student subsequently requiring hospitalization.
“I was horrified. People were terrified, and there was no one to protect us,” said department chair Eleni Sella, visibly distressed by the incident. Witnesses indicated that police arrived approximately ten minutes after the attack was reported but only entered the premises once the assailants had already departed. The incident raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of existing emergency protocols, as the university’s private security team was reportedly ill-equipped to manage the situation.
“The way they executed the attack demonstrates clear planning,” Saridakis added, emphasizing the organized nature of the assault. Education officials decried the violence, labeling it “fascist in nature,” and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis urged immediate arrests. He criticized the university administration for the lack of readiness and referenced a security law enacted in 2021 aimed at preventing such incursions.
In response to the violence, university officials expressed strong support for a thorough investigation, vowing to assist authorities in identifying the perpetrators. The incident has reignited discussions surrounding the balance of safety and freedom within academic environments, provoking renewed scrutiny over how universities manage student security and the responsibilities of law enforcement during emergencies.