Violent clashes broke out late on Saturday night, 7 February, outside the campus of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, following a party held on university premises. According to police, a group of individuals exited the campus and launched multiple petrol bombs at riot police units stationed nearby. During the attacks, one police officer was injured and later admitted to the hospital, while three vehicles were damaged. Police responded with tear gas, and a water cannon vehicle was deployed to repel the attackers and extinguish fires sparked by the incendiary devices.
In the aftermath of the clashes, authorities carried out 313 detentions. However, all those detained were subsequently released, as no charges were brought. In an official statement, police described the attackers as individuals with their faces covered who carried out an "unprovoked and unjustified" assault using a large number of improvised incendiary devices, endangering officers, bystanders and public property.
The incidents prompted political intervention, with the Ministry of Education seeking clarification from the university's rectorate, the institution's administrative and security bodies, and the police. The ministry specifically requested information on whether the event preceding the clashes was known to university authorities, whether permission had been granted, and how security protocols were implemented. The rectorate was given 48 hours to submit a detailed report outlining the actions taken so far and the measures that would follow.
Education officials stressed that the legal framework would be applied, warning that responsibility would be sought and assigned where appropriate. Meanwhile, the university Dean, Kyriakos Anastasiadis, travelled to Athens to meet with Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki as part of ongoing consultations. Responding to criticism from government officials, the university administration denied that any university authority had authorised the party at the Polytechnic School. In a sharply worded statement, the rectorate described such claims as an "outright lie". It condemned what it called a "sad and insignificant minority" who turned the campus courtyard and surrounding streets into a scene of criminal behaviour.
The university has said its internal investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Hellenic Police, is ongoing and that any responsibilities will be identified. It also signalled a tougher stance going forward, stating that the institution would not allow its academic and research mission to be undermined by violent groups. Notably, the rectorate raised the possibility of introducing controlled access to university facilities, potentially shifting campus security policy.
