On November 8, 2024, several unidentified assailants broke windows and set fire to the administration building at the National Technical University of Athens’ (NTUA) Zografou Polytechnic campus, causing significant damage.

The attack destroyed the legal counsel’s office and the vice rector’s office, and damaged several other surrounding offices in the building.

In a university statement, Rector Ioannis Chatjigeorgiou suggested that the vandalism was likely linked to the university’s efforts to remove anarchist groups that had been occupying various areas of the campus.

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/1253264/ntua-facing-security-dilemma-after-arson-attack/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1253063/suspected-arson-sparks-fire-at-athens-university-administration-building/
https://www.alfavita.gr/ekpaideysi/461919_emp-minyma-hatzigeorgioy-gia-tis-katastrofes-sto-ktirio-dioikisis-08/11