On January 16, 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) for the second time.

This attack came just one day after a group forcibly entered and vandalized the administration building (see report). According to media reports, both events occurred in protest of several government higher education reforms, including a bill allowing private universities to operate in Greece.

On January 16, a group of hooded individuals, likely a part of the same group as the previous day, entered the administration building and again damaged university property, including smashing windows and furniture. The administration requested police support for the second time. Police and demonstrators briefly clashed with one another, until the demonstrators dispersed.

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/