Greek police fire tear gas at Golden Dawn protesters

Greek police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of Golden Dawn supporters protesting outside an Athens court where the neo-Nazi party’s leader was appearing on Friday.

Chanting “Fatherland, honour, Golden Dawn,” the crowd attacked police and photojournalists outside the Supreme Court, an AFP journalist said.

Three photojournalists were hit by Golden Dawn supporters whilst trying to take pictures of the scuffle with police.

“You are not welcome here,” the demonstrators shouted at the journalists in English, a practice often used by Golden Dawn, whose members are no longer invited to appear on television.

The Greek federation of journalists (Poesy) criticised the police for failing to protect media on the scene.

“Nazi violence does not intimidate news staff,” the federation said. “We demand measures to protect media from Golden Dawn thugs.”

Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris had also struck reporters last year, moments after being conditionally released by magistrates on criminal charges.

“Such behaviour reveals the criminal mentality and activity” of Golden Dawn members, Poesy said.

Golden Dawn leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos, his deputy MP Christos Pappas, and another member, Yannis Lagos, had been transferred to the court from Korydallos prison to answer weapons charges, according to a judicial source.

All three have been detained since September on charges of belonging to a criminal organisation as part of a major crackdown on Golden Dawn, whose members are accused of being behind at least two murders and numerous abuses against migrants and leftists.

Eight members of parliament and ex-MPs from the party are currently in custody awaiting trial, while a number of others have been released on bail.

Founded in the 1980s, the openly xenophobic and anti-Semitic party was for years a semi-clandestine group on the fringes of Greek politics.

But in 2012, it won 18 seats in parliament, tapping into widespread anger over immigration and austerity reforms in the debt-ridden country.

Two politicians have since resigned, but Golden Dawn also came third in European elections in May, winning three seats.