RIGHT NOW: Chaos on the island – farmers take over airports

Crete

Farmers' outburst of madness: Riots on Crete

Emil Forsberg

Updated 23.20 | Published 22.08

 

Farmers stop traffic at the airport in Heraklion on Monday. Photo: Eurokinissi/AP

The top lid has been blown off by Greece's farmers.

Now they are attacking police and blocking airports and roads.

At the same time, they are accused of "attempted mass murder".

On Monday, Crete's airports were stormed by crazed farmers.

Eight police officers were injured while police vehicles were overturned and smashed, writes Protothema.

They plan to stay there until Tuesday morning to protest against the authorities in Athens withholding EU subsidies that farmers believe they are entitled to, writes TT.

But there are also violent clashes around the country, with police stations stormed and roads blocked.

 

Greek farmers blocked the highways on Monday. Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP

 

At Chania airport, the protests went off the rails. Photo: Giannis Angelakis/AP

According to Protothema, several farmers with serious criminal backgrounds have now been charged with "attempted mass murder".

The demonstration is part of nationwide protests against Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government, who are being criticized for having all beneficiaries audited after previous fraud with EU grants, totaling the equivalent of 300 million kronor, writes TT.

Sheep farmers are also fighting a widespread epidemic of sheep and goat pox in the country. More than 400,000 sheep and goats have been slaughtered, and farmers are demanding compensation for the animals that were killed. The epidemic has also prompted warnings of a looming shortage of feta cheese, the BBC reports.

 

Photo: Giannis Angelakis/AP