The police station of Acropolis in central Athens had been one of the most notorious in the city centre, with repeated cases of abuse and torture by the police there reported over the years:
- On May 11th, 2008 the then 24-year old Nikos Sakellion was beaten by four policemen on Anaxagora street and fell in a coma. The cops abandoned him, but a video shot by a passer-by proved their guilt. The witness who shot the video was accused with lying in court, while Nikos’ father continued his legal struggle to vindicate his son. The cops claimed the death was caused by self-inflicted choking, and not by any beating. Five years later, the trial took place, finding the police innocent. The second degree trial is currently under way, with the next date set for January 30.
- On December 23, 2010, the Senegalese street vendor Jo Usman reported he was beaten by cops serving at the Acropolis police station, who punched him in the stomach, resulting in his hospitalisation.
- Six days later, another compatriot of his, Jili Daou, was arrested by cops on Ermou street (note: the main commercial street of Athens), who beat him up and transfered him to the Acropolis police station, where they continued to torture him, to beat and swear at him, while degrading him and his genitals.
- Only two days later, cops of the same police station continued their work, arresting and torturing the 30-year old Chillean Pedro Navaro, sending him to the hospital, injured.
The Acropolis police station had been repeatedly targeted and attacked by anarchists – see, for example:
- Night-time attack at the Acropolis police station, Occupied London, September 30, 2012
- Athens police station attacked by anarchists: communique, AnarchistNews, March 3, 2013
According to the police themselves, the Acropolis police department is closing down with immediate effect (and its 150 police staff are transferred to nearby police stations, in Syntagma, Exarcheia and Omonoia) because the building was “unsuitable”, as it was vulnerable to repeated attacks by anarchists.