Athens, Greece — A brutal assault by masked attackers during a student-organized event at the University of Athens Law School has sparked serious concerns over campus safety and the adequacy of police response. The violence erupted on Wednesday during a career day event hosted by the ruling New Democracy party’s student group, drawing around 50 participants, including students, professors, and diplomats.
Witnesses reported that eight individuals dressed in black with helmets and full-face coverings stormed the venue armed with batons and fire extinguishers. Emeritus professor Ioannis Mazis described the attackers as moving in a “commando style” from the stairwell, suggesting a level of preparation for the assault.
Among the victims was a doctoral candidate who bravely attempted to prevent the assailants from entering. He was brutally beaten for several minutes before the attackers fled, leaving him severely injured and requiring hospitalization. “He’s lucky to be alive,” noted Ioannis Saridakis, vice president of the department, highlighting the seriousness of the assault.
The chaotic scene left students and faculty in shock. Department chair Eleni Sella recounted the event, expressing her disbelief that no immediate protection was provided. “It was shocking. People were panicked,” she said, visibly shaken.
Critics of the university’s security measures noted that police arrived approximately ten minutes after the attack began but only entered the building after the assailants had escaped. The absence of emergency alarms and a functional evacuation plan raised further alarms about the institution’s preparedness for such violent incidents. The university’s private security reportedly lacked the capacity to effectively respond to the situation.
“This was clearly a planned attack,” Saridakis added, stressing the need for a thorough investigation. Education officials responded with outrage, labeling the actions of the attackers as “fascist in nature.” Michalis Chrysochoidis, Greece’s Minister of Citizen Protection, criticized the university administration for failing to enforce a 2021 security law intended to safeguard educational spaces.
Authorities are calling for swift action against the perpetrators, with university officials pledging full cooperation in the investigation. They emphasized the urgency of bringing those responsible to justice, as fear and uncertainty loom large on campus following the attack.