Far-Right Mob Attacks 75-Year-Old Liberal Greek Mayor | HuffPost Latest News

A mob of far-right nationalists attacked the 75-year-old mayor of Thessaloniki, Greece, on Saturday, leaving him hospitalized after he was beaten and thrown to the ground.

Mayor Yiannis Boutaris was attending a ceremony honoring Greeks killed in World War I when around a dozen ultra-nationalists also gathered at the event assaulted him.

Boutaris, who has been outspoken about his liberal policies, suffered kicks to the head and other injuries. A crowd of angry men hurled bottles and chased him from the commemoration following the attack, after which aides took the mayor to Thessalonikis Ippokrateio General Hospital where he was kept overnight.

It was organized fascists who attacked me as a person and as a mayor, Boutaris told a council meeting on Monday, according to Greek media.

Video of the incident shows a shaken Boutaris being helped from the event as a chaotic swirl of far-right supporters throw objects and attempt to hit him.

Boutaris described the attack reminiscent of a scene from the 1969 movie Z about right-wing rule in Greece at the time as a nightmare, and said several people struck him.

Authorities arrested several men following the attack, according to Greek media.

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