Three students were injured after a masked group attacked the Department of Mathematics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) with Molotov cocktails, clubs and an axe on Wednesday morning (4 November).
Dramatic footage of the incident, which took place at the university's Zografou campus, has since emerged on social media, showing fires breaking out inside the university buildings and a young man running with his clothes engulfed in flames.
Screams can also be heard in the video, while several individuals wearing helmets are seen at the scene.
According to student accounts, one first-year student was hit by a Molotov cocktail, prompting fellow students to rush to his aid with a fire extinguisher.
Masked attackers storm student assembly
The attack took place while a general student assembly was under way ahead of planned demonstrations marking the anniversary of the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising.
Natalia Labriniadi, a member of the Student Union's board, told Greek news outlet protothema.gr that students initially heard a disturbance before leaving the lecture hall and witnessing a group of approximately 50 masked individuals attacking those present.
A female Physics student, speaking to the same outlet, said the attackers used Molotov cocktails and an axe, leaving several people injured.
"They came and threw Molotov cocktails, hitting a first-year student in the face," she said.
She added that another student was injured in the leg after being struck with an axe.
The witness also described how fellow students rushed to help the young man whose clothes had caught fire, using a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.
Three students were injured in total and taken to hospital. According to an update from the University of Athens, none of their injuries is considered life-threatening.
Education Ministry seeks answers over attack
Greece's Ministry of Education has requested explanations from the university's governing authorities following the incident, which has also prompted reactions from student groups.
Members of the Student Union believe the attack may be linked to planned demonstrations ahead of the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. However, this theory has not been confirmed by the relevant authorities.
University sources cited by protothema.gr said investigators are examining the possibility that the attackers entered the campus through areas where security coverage was inadequate.
The footage, released on Thursday (5 November), captures the intensity of the attack, including the moment one of the students attempts to escape the flames.
