A violent incident during a student-organized “Career Days” event at the Athens University Law School on Wednesday evening has raised serious concerns about safety and security within Greek university campuses.
According to reports, shortly before 8:00 p.m., a group of five hooded individuals forcibly entered the first floor of the law school building and launched a violent assault in front of students and faculty members. The attack occurred during a break in the event, which featured multiple guest speakers and was intended to support students’ professional development.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as a sudden and coordinated raid. One graduate student attempted to block the intruders from entering the main hall, which was occupied by students, some of whom were pregnant, elderly attendees, and families. The assailants proceeded to physically assault the student, hitting him with a fire extinguisher and pushing him down a staircase. The student was seriously injured and was transported by ambulance to the “Red Cross” Hospital.
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A member of the teaching staff also sustained minor injuries while trying to shield the student from the attackers.
Speaking to a local broadcaster, an eyewitness and university professor said:
“It was a ‘Career Days’ event, initiated by students. About 6–7 colleagues had been invited as speakers. During a break, around halfway through the discussion, I and three or four other speakers stepped outside the room to talk. Suddenly, there was a raid.”
“I’ve seen a lot over the years in universities, but nothing like this. There were 8 to 10 people, all wearing hoods and helmets. They came up the stairs very quickly and attacked us, first spraying us with fire extinguishers, then attempting to storm the room where mostly female students were gathered, pregnant women were also present, along with elderly individuals and about 40 to 50 students.”
“A doctoral student tried to block the doorway to protect those inside. They beat him on the head and threw him down the stairs. The student was injured. He could have died. He’s lucky to be alive.”
The eyewitness noted that the attackers left without making any statements.
“They didn’t say anything. It wasn’t a political intervention like we’ve seen in the past. They came, they hit, and they left.”
“There was blood on the floor. People were terrified, afraid for their lives. A pregnant student nearly fainted. There was no coordination. The police took a long time to arrive, and unfortunately, there was no plan in place.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage within the academic community, with students and faculty voicing strong dissatisfaction over the apparent lack of campus security. Many are calling for urgent improvements to ensure the safety of university spaces.
Police are investigating the attack. No arrests have been reported at this time.
