Greek police officer in court over shooting of Roma teen

A Greek police officer appeared in court in northern Greece Friday over the shooting and serious injury of a Roma teenager during a police chase over an allegedly unpaid gas station bill, with protesters gathering outside the courthouse.
Security was tight at the courthouse, with riot police forming a cordon and the police officer surrounded by dozens of his colleagues as he arrived for questioning by an investigative judge on a felony charge of attempted manslaughter with possible intent, and a misdemeanor of illegally firing his weapon.
About 200 friends and relatives of the injured 16-year-old and other protesters from the Roma community gathered outside the courthouse in Thessaloniki, holding up photos of the youth and calling for justice. Monday’s shooting already sparked days of violent protests by members of the Roma community in Greece’s second-largest city, as well as Athens and other areas.
“It wasn’t the gas, it wasn’t the money, the cops shot because he was Roma,” the protesters chanted outside the courthouse. Some burned 20-euro notes – the amount the teenager allegedly failed to pay at the gas station.
Community leaders called for a peaceful protest outside the courthouse, and are demanding the police officer be remanded in custody pending trial.