ATHENS, Greece (AP) – The U.S. ambassador to Greece has condemned a vandalism attack on his home in Athens, after paint was thrown at the wall outside his residence near the embassy.
Geoffrey Pyatt said in a tweet Wednesday that the paint attack was “childish vandalism” and that he would work with Greek authorities “to punish the culprits according to law.”
Kalimera, I woke up to more childish vandalism this morning outside the residence and will continue to work with Greek authorities to punish the culprits according to law. Destruction of property is not peaceful protest.
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@USAmbPyatt) May 15, 2019
The ambassador said “destruction of property is not peaceful protest.”
Greece’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack, saying it was an “unacceptable and irresponsible act that will however not harm the friendship and increasingly broad cooperation between our two countries.”
Anarchist and far-left groups often carry out vandalism attacks at the homes or offices of diplomats and politicians in Athens, usually by throwing paint.
A couple walk past the residence of the US ambassador to Greece, vandalised with paint early on May 15, 2019, a move carried out by domestic anarchists group Rouvikonas . – Police said a group of ten persons on motorcycles approached the ambassador’s residence and threw paint and a smoke bomb, in support of a jailed prominent member of the far-left Greek extremist organisation called November 17. Dimitris Koufodinas, the organisation’s main hitman who is serving multiple life sentences, went on hunger strike this month after a furlough request was denied. LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images
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