The Greek police destroyed an illegal immigrant camp near Patra. Patra, which is one of the biggest Greek ports, has turned into one of the biggest illegal immigrant centers. Immigrants are without a job or any legal papers and live under miserable conditions. The destroyed camp was housing 1800 people, predominantly Afghani. During the last few days, they felt that something was going to happen – some of them managed to move to other camps around Greece and others had left for Italy. The camp has been there for 10 years and the local Patra citizens were always protesting against it.

The police action started on Sunday morning and was done by the Special anti-Riots Forces. According to Associated Press the police set on fire the tents, in order to clear the entrance. After the fire did its job, diggers came, which completely destroyed constructions from paper, carton, nylon, and cloth. The police has arrested 44 underage foreigners, who have been taken to an illegal immigrant center for minors. Another 15 people were arrested, who had residence permits. Later on they were accommodated in hotels in the city. Another 15 immigrants did not have legal papers, so they were taken to the local police station in Patra.

Meanwhile internal minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said in an interview for Katemerini newspaper that 5 new centers for illegal immigrants are being constructed, so that situations like the one in Patra can be avoided. The new centers are in Kipos, Kavala, Ritsona, Aspropirgos and Rio. Greece has often been criticized by the international rights organizations about the miserable conditions, under which illegal immigrants live.