Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Deadly neo-Nazi attack on Greek rapper was ‘professional’: father

-

The fatal stabbing of a Greek anti-fascist rapper by a neo-Nazi supporter in 2013 that shocked the country was a "professional" attack, his father told court on Tuesday.

Panagiotis Fyssas, a retired shipyard worker, said his son Pavlos had been ambushed by around 60 members of the Golden Dawn party outside a cafeteria.

A handful of police stood nearby but did not intervene when a group of around 20 people chased down Fyssas and his friends, he said.

"He took two blows to the heart ... the doctor at the hospital said it was a professional blow to cause internal bleeding," Fyssas told the court, according to an AFP journalist.

He added that self-confessed killer Yiorgos Roupakias, a truck driver, had been "ordered" to kill his son because of his anti-fascist stance.

"This organisation shuts the mouths of those that oppose them," Fyssas said.

"They do nothing without orders," he added.

The trial of 69 members and supporters of the xenophobic and anti-Semitic formation began in April but has made little headway due to procedural wrangling.

The court adjourned to Friday, when Fyssas' mother Magda is scheduled to testify.

State prosecutors are trying to prove that Golden Dawn operated as a criminal organisation with a military-style leadership that allegedly encouraged the beating -- and possibly the killing -- of migrants and political opponents.

Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos earlier this month admitted political responsibility for the killing but rejected any criminal blame, calling Roupakias' actions "reprehensible".

But the Fyssas family say they have no illusions about who ordered the killing, pointing to the formation's tightly-regimented structure.

The investigation found a flurry of phonecalls took place between Roupakias and Golden Dawn higher-ups after Fyssas' murder.

"Nikos Michaloliakos' hands are painted in the blood of my son," Fyssas' father said Tuesday.

Fyssas' mother had warned voters against supporting Golden Dawn in the September 20 general election.

The neo-Nazis did lose some 9,000 votes nationwide compared to the last election in January, but still finished third with 18 lawmakers.

The party picked up extra votes on eastern Aegean islands Lesbos and Kos, where massive refugee arrivals have riled locals.

The fatal stabbing of a Greek anti-fascist rapper by a neo-Nazi supporter in 2013 that shocked the country was a “professional” attack, his father told court on Tuesday.

Panagiotis Fyssas, a retired shipyard worker, said his son Pavlos had been ambushed by around 60 members of the Golden Dawn party outside a cafeteria.

A handful of police stood nearby but did not intervene when a group of around 20 people chased down Fyssas and his friends, he said.

“He took two blows to the heart … the doctor at the hospital said it was a professional blow to cause internal bleeding,” Fyssas told the court, according to an AFP journalist.

He added that self-confessed killer Yiorgos Roupakias, a truck driver, had been “ordered” to kill his son because of his anti-fascist stance.

“This organisation shuts the mouths of those that oppose them,” Fyssas said.

“They do nothing without orders,” he added.

The trial of 69 members and supporters of the xenophobic and anti-Semitic formation began in April but has made little headway due to procedural wrangling.

The court adjourned to Friday, when Fyssas’ mother Magda is scheduled to testify.

State prosecutors are trying to prove that Golden Dawn operated as a criminal organisation with a military-style leadership that allegedly encouraged the beating — and possibly the killing — of migrants and political opponents.

Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos earlier this month admitted political responsibility for the killing but rejected any criminal blame, calling Roupakias’ actions “reprehensible”.

But the Fyssas family say they have no illusions about who ordered the killing, pointing to the formation’s tightly-regimented structure.

The investigation found a flurry of phonecalls took place between Roupakias and Golden Dawn higher-ups after Fyssas’ murder.

“Nikos Michaloliakos’ hands are painted in the blood of my son,” Fyssas’ father said Tuesday.

Fyssas’ mother had warned voters against supporting Golden Dawn in the September 20 general election.

The neo-Nazis did lose some 9,000 votes nationwide compared to the last election in January, but still finished third with 18 lawmakers.

The party picked up extra votes on eastern Aegean islands Lesbos and Kos, where massive refugee arrivals have riled locals.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Immigration is a symptom of a much deeper worldwide problem.

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal infers that some workers might be falling out of the job market altogether.

Business

Traveling in NY is already costly, but it just got worse: transit authorities have approved a controversial $15 toll, set to take effect in...