Lesbos: Greek police fire tear gas at protesting migrants | CNN

Greek police fire tear gas at protesting migrants on Lesbos

By Byron Smith and Elinda Labropoulou, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 4:50 PM EDT, Sat September 12, 2020
Refugees and migrants flee as tear gas is fired by riot police during clashes on Lesbos on September 12.
Refugees and migrants flee as tear gas is fired by riot police during clashes on Lesbos on September 12.
ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images
Lesbos, Greece CNN  — 

Police on the Greek island of Lesbos fired tear gas at a group of migrants on Saturday protesting against a new camp being set up to replace one destroyed this week by fire, according to police.

Migrants had been protesting along the main road connecting the island town of Mytilene and the location of the new camp, which is due to be set up by the authorities after the Moria camp was razed earlier this week.

Greek police confirmed the use of tear gas to disperse protesters, saying Saturday, “Small scale clashes between police and protesting migrants took place earlier today.”

About 300 migrants were rehoused to a new camp Saturday, police said.

A journalist on the ground said the migrants were frustrated with being in refugee camps and want to leave the island, but the Greek government said on Friday they would “not be blackmailed” into relocating them.

Greek authorities said the fires at Moria appeared to have been deliberately lit after quarantine rules were imposed on residents who had tested positive for coronavirus at Europe’s largest refugee camp.

One protester had been affected by the teargas and was shouting angrily about her treatment in the camp.

An Afghan child rests after fires broke out in the Moria migrant camp on Tuesday, September 9.
An Afghan child rests after fires broke out in the Moria migrant camp on Tuesday, September 9.
Byron Smith/Getty Images
Fires rage in the Moria camp on September 9. Greek authorities said the fires appeared to have been deliberately lit after quarantine rules were imposed on residents who had tested positive for coronavirus. The camp was put under lockdown after 35 people tested positive for Covid-19.
Fires rage in the Moria camp on September 9. Greek authorities said the fires appeared to have been deliberately lit after quarantine rules were imposed on residents who had tested positive for coronavirus. The camp was put under lockdown after 35 people tested positive for Covid-19.
Byron Smith/Getty Images
An Afghan family wakes up Friday, September 11, in the aftermath of the Moria fires.
An Afghan family wakes up Friday, September 11, in the aftermath of the Moria fires.
Byron Smith for CNN
This poem was written by a displaced Afghan migrant after the fires.
This poem was written by a displaced Afghan migrant after the fires.
Byron Smith for CNN
This Afghan migrant family was among those left homeless by the Moria fires.
This Afghan migrant family was among those left homeless by the Moria fires.
Byron Smith for CNN
An Afghan migrant starts a fire for his family's morning tea on September 11.
An Afghan migrant starts a fire for his family's morning tea on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
An Afghan boy expresses his thanks before eating breakfast, which included pita, honey and tahini spread, at his family's tent on September 11.
An Afghan boy expresses his thanks before eating breakfast, which included pita, honey and tahini spread, at his family's tent on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
Greek police keep tabs on migrant protests on September 11.
Greek police keep tabs on migrant protests on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
A displaced Syrian migrant cleans up around her new tent, located on the roof of an industrial site. The supermarket in the background is where many Greeks and migrants have shopped, photographer Byron Smith said.
A displaced Syrian migrant cleans up around her new tent, located on the roof of an industrial site. The supermarket in the background is where many Greeks and migrants have shopped, photographer Byron Smith said.
Byron Smith for CNN
Displaced migrants protest on September 11.
Displaced migrants protest on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
People walk through the remains of the burned-out Moria camp.
People walk through the remains of the burned-out Moria camp.
Byron Smith/Getty Images
Migrant children play at their new tent on September 11.
Migrant children play at their new tent on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
A boy fetches water for his family.
A boy fetches water for his family.
Byron Smith for CNN
An Afghan migrant combs his daughter's hair on September 11.
An Afghan migrant combs his daughter's hair on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
The sun rises over the burned-out camp on September 11.
The sun rises over the burned-out camp on September 11.
Byron Smith for CNN
Europe's largest migrant camp was destroyed. Now thousands are homeless

The migrants were chanting “Freedom!” and holding placards that read “no tent, no Lesbos, no Greece,” “we need peace and freedom” and “Moria Kills All Lives.”

Tensions come after four days since fires tore through Moria, Europe’s largest refugee camp, displacing 13,000 people including thousands of children.

Refugees from the camp have been left homeless and hungry after the fires, with some sleeping at roadsides and gas stations while dozens of families took refuge in a nearby cemetery.

Director of the Greek Migration Minister’s office, Konstantinos Kostakos, said authorities would temporarily relocate about 1,000 migrants – particularly those in vulnerable groups – onto a ship that has docked at Sigri, on the western side of the island.