Death of a teenage Greek boy caused riots throughout Greece

 A police officer in Greece who shot and killed a teenager Saturday night is charged with murder, malicious intent and has been suspended, officials said.

The incident caused riots throughout the country Saturday night and earlier this morning.   Demonstrators barricaded city streets in Athens and Thessaloniki and hurled petrol bombs, which caused police to use tear gas in return.

According to the officers involved, Saturday night, a group of teenagers was throwing stones at their police cars.  The murdered suspect, a sixteen-year old boy, threw a fuel-filled bomb at an officer’s car, and the officer shot him.

Teenagers at the incident started texting other teenagers throughout the city about the incident, and before long, teens throughout the country were aware of what was happening.

Fighting quickly erupted throughout the country, storefronts were being smashed and businesses were set on fire.  Officials evacuated an apartment building in Athens after a group of teens torched a car dealership that was located in the basement of the apartment building.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who submitted his resignation earlier this morning said, “While people have the right to demonstrate, such protests should not turn against business owners and the public.  It is everyone’s right to demonstrate and to advocate for their rights, but I stress, not by destroying the property of others.”

A demonstration is planned for later today and Monday in Central Athens.