Golden Dawn (nazi) MP attacks another MP on TV

The neo-Nazi Kasidiaris, an was provoked when Rena Dourou of Syriza mentioned his alleged involvement in an armed robbery in 2007. Greek prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant.

The Irish Times:

The spokesman for Greece’s extremist far-right Golden Dawn party caused an uproar today when he physically assaulted two left-wing deputies on live television during a morning political show.

Tempers frayed on the political show on the private Antenna television station during a discussion on the country’s politics in the run-up to repeat elections on June 17th.

Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris took offence at a reference by radical left Syriza party member Rena Dorou over a court case pending against him.

Mr Kasidiaris (31) bounded out of his seat and hurled a glass of water across the table over Ms Dorou when she said there was a “crisis of democracy when people who will take the country back 500 years have got into the Greek parliament”.

He then turned on prominent Communist Party member Liana Kanelli, who had got out of her chair with a newspaper in hand and appeared to throw it at the Golden Dawn member.

A public prosecutor ordered his immediate arrest for the attacks.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tsiodras said: “The government condemns in the most categorical way the attack by Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris against Liana Kanelli and Rena Dourou. This attack is an attack against every democratic citizen.”

Golden Dawn, which vehemently denies the neo-Nazi label, has been accused of being behind violent attacks against immigrants.

Mr Kasidiaris is accused of participation in a 2007 attack on a student. He faces charges of assisting in robbery and bodily harm after his car was allegedly used in the incident in which a student had his identity card stolen. He claims the accusation is politically motivated by Syriza members. The case was to be heard in court yesterday but has been postponed until Monday.

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