The bust of slain police officer Giorgos Lyngeridis was vandalized for a second time in a short period, authorities said, in a park in central Thessaloniki.
Unknown individuals sprayed anarchist symbols on the monument, which is located in a park named after Lyngeridis in the Syntagmatos (Fountain) Square area, police said. A similar act of vandalism involving black paint had also been reported at the end of April.
The bust was unveiled last October in a ceremony attended by the president of Greece. Municipal and other relevant authorities have been informed to proceed with restoration work.
Lyngeridis, a riot police officer, died in December 2023 at the age of 31 after being injured during clashes outside a volleyball match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos in the Piraeus suburb of Rentis. He was struck in the thigh by a naval flare fired by individuals outside the stadium and later died in hospital from complications related to his injuries after nearly three weeks in intensive care.
His death prompted a government crackdown on sports-related violence, including temporary stadium closures to fans and the introduction of stricter security measures such as enhanced surveillance and electronic ticketing systems. The impact of these measures remains debated.
