On January 15, 2024, a large group of hooded assailants, reportedly including several students, raided and vandalized an administration building at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).

According to media reports, the assailants were protesting against several government higher education reforms, including a bill allowing private universities to operate in Greece.

On January 15, the group entered the administration building by forcibly removing university employees, and proceeded to break windows, smash other office equipment, and hang banners. The Monades Apokatastasis Taksis (MAT) – a group of riot police – dispersed the hooded individuals using chemical irritants. Police arrested five people.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and destructive attacks on campus, apparently intended to prevent the functioning of a higher education institution. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1229239/self-styled-anarchists-raid-ntua-building/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/anarchists-storm-vandalize-athens-university-administration-offices/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1229333/unknown-assailants-storm-campus-amid-protests-against-private-university-scheme/
https://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/1455789/se-exelixi-i-epemvasi-tis-astunomias-se-katalipsi-sto-ethniko-metsoveio-polutehneio/
https://www.newsbreak.gr/ellada/552355/elixe-me-paremvasi-ton-mat-katalipsi-sti-prytaneia-toy-polytechneioy-poy-egine-gia-ta-idiotika-panepistimia/