The rioting that has gripped Greece for almost a week showed troubling signs of spreading across Europe yesterday, as violence erupted in several cities. Youths smashed shop windows, attacked banks and hurled bottles at police in small but violent protests yesterday in Spain and Denmark, while cars were set alight outside a consulate in France.A day earlier, protesters gathered at the Greek embassy in Rome and attacked police cars and other vehicles and setting trash on fire.
Authorities say the incidents have been isolated so far, but acknowledge concern that the Greek riots -- which started over the police killing of a 15-year-old on Saturday -- could be a trigger for anti-globalization groups and others outraged by economic turmoil and a lack of jobs. "What's happening in Greece tends to prove that the extreme left exists, contrary to doubts of some over these past few weeks," French Interior Ministry spokesperson Gerard Gachet said.
As Europe plunges into recession, unemployment is rising, particularly among youths. Even before the crisis, they complained about the lack of jobs, saying they felt left out as the continent prospered.
At least some of the protests appear to have been organized over the Internet, showing how quickly a message can be spread. "We're encouraging non-violent action here and abroad," said Konstantinos Sakkas, a 23-year-old protester at the Athens Polytechnic. "What these are abroad are spontaneous expressions of solidarity with what's going on here."
In Denmark, protesters pelted riot police with bottles and paint in downtown Copenhagen at a rally Wednesday. In Spain, youths attacked banks, shops and a police station in Madrid and Barcelona Wednesday. Some of the protesters chanted "police killers." Eleven people were arrested at the two rallies that each drew 200 people.
Daniel Lostao, president of the state-financed Youth Council, said young people in Spain face daunting economic challenges. Still, he said he doubted the protests in Spain would grow. "We do not have the feeling that this is going to spread."
Elsewhere in Europe, more than 15 people occupied the Greek consulate in Berlin Monday, hanging a banner out the window with the dead Greek teenager's name, Alexandros Grigoropoulos, and the words "Killed by the State." About 100 people protested at the Greek consulate in Frankfurt on Tuesday.
In France, protesters set fire to two cars and a garbage can apparently stuffed with flammable material outside the Greek consulate in Bordeaux early yesterday and scrawled graffiti on the building threatening more unrest, Michel Corfias, the Greek consul, said.