“An unequivocal and unconditional condemnation of the phenomenon by society as a whole is the only way to bring it to an end,” said Minister for Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis, speaking to SKAI Radio 100.3 about the recent bombing at the Hellenic Train offices.

He stated, “Terrorism, as it appeared in the early post-junta years, was later dismantled… Now the incidents are fewer and of smaller scale, but they persist.” Regarding the perpetrators of this latest attack, he said, “They are identical to their predecessors. Small groups who attempt to carry on their legacy—but they won’t succeed. It is our duty—of democracy, society, and the police—to dismantle them. And you can be sure that this group, which was behind the two recent incidents (i.e. the Ministry of Labor and Hellenic Train), will be arrested and brought to justice. You can count on that,” he concluded.

On the clashes in Exarchia following a concert on Strefi Hill early Sunday morning, Chrysochoidis remarked, “Whenever tensions rise in the country, whether due to political developments or internal/external events that foster polarization, we unfortunately see the re-emergence of extremist elements. Especially since the post-junta period, generations have grown up embracing violence, continuing a tradition that results in destruction and the spread of violence.” He added that significant steps have been taken to address such phenomena in Exarchia. “For about fifty years, there were daily fires and Molotov attacks on party offices on Charilaou Trikoupi Street—this has now been reduced to a minimum,” he said, stressing that “those who destroy property to express their beliefs through violence must and will be arrested.”

He also criticized the abandonment of efforts to revamp Strefi Hill, saying, “Some residents opposed modernization and a safer neighborhood. As a result, we now have to station police forces there to guard the installations, which is unfortunate—not only because that is not the role of the police, but because many officers are occupied with work that should have been inherently beneficial for the area.” He further noted, “This space is used for recreation, but there is no license for a venue or café—everything is illegal, and such gatherings will not be allowed again. Anyone attempting to organize events there, such as concerts, should know it is forbidden. We must put an end to this.”

Chrysochoidis emphasized the transformation of Exarchia, now frequented by thousands of visitors every weekend. “It is a different neighborhood now, and I believe the upcoming metro station will be the next step. However, some violent minority groups still behave antisocially. What happened on Saturday night will not go unpunished. Investigations are underway and will continue.”

He added, “Let’s be fair: the police have done a lot in Exarchia, but it’s not their job to ‘humanize’ an entire neighborhood. Many actors and agencies are involved. The police do their part. Exarchia is no longer what it used to be. It’s a normal neighborhood, which some people occasionally use as a launchpad for violence.”

According to Chrysochoidis, since the beginning of the year, the police have handled approximately 2,000 protests, most of which ended peacefully, except for a few incidents. He underlined the value of the police’s mission, “Their role in fighting crime is crucial for Greece.”

He also referred to the recent amendments to the Penal Code that reclassified Molotov attacks as felonies. “There is now a much stricter framework. Throwing a Molotov cocktail used to be treated lightly… but a Molotov can kill—it contains gasoline and sometimes even shrapnel. What used to be dismissed as trivial is now legally considered a serious criminal offense.”

Regarding the Marfin arson case, where the perpetrators remain at large, Chrysochoidis said, “Personally, this weighs heavily on me. It is a duty I owe to the memory of the victims, their families, and democracy itself. It remains a stain on both the police and democracy. Rest assured that every effort is still being made to solve this case.”