Violent attacks against homeless immigrants in Peloponnesus

Alert DateAugust 5, 2011 Country: Greece Address: Laconia General Type: Racist violence Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Housing
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Pakistani
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age 26-35
Victims Number 8
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

An arson attack and a gunshot against immigrants were reported in Kalamata and Laconia (Peloponnesus) during the summer of 2011. Both incidents concerned homeless immigrants.

  • Kalamata, 23.07.2011: A double arson attack against an abandoned house in Kalamata that was used as a shelter by migrants. The unknown perpetrators tried to arson the abandoned house and when their first attempt failed, they came back to the place 4 hours later and arsoned the house in which migrants were staying at that moment. Hopefully, the vicitms managed to escape and only material damages were noted.
  • Laconia, 05.08.2011: A man of Greek descent from Laconia emptied his rifle on Pakistani immigrants because he found them sleeping in his warehouse. The victims were hospitalized for a day. The eight Pakistanis living in Laconia, who could not afford to pay the rent of the house they rented, were looking for shelter to spend the night. They located  a store somewhere in a field a few kilometers away from the village. The next day the owner of the store found three of the eight immigrants in the warehouse. He attacked them with a wooden object, went back home and came back to take his rifle and and fired against them, provoking injuries to the two Pakistanis, aged 26 and 27-year-old.The man who shot them was not arrested ever since the police failed to do so within the time limits of a crime. The Police Department of Laconia has never published a press release, for "not to prevent the arrest of the offender" as they explained. A file is already formed against the offender for attempted murder with intent, a threat, and bodily harm.

Source: