ATHENS – As police reportedly watched and didn't intervene, a journalist and her Greek TV station crew covering a major fire north of Athens were attacked by a group of assailants who battered them, the victims said.

The team was from Open TV and part of the attack was broadcast, a woman heard screaming as they were assaulted, saying their vehicle was extensively damaged and that the reporter was hit in the face.

Firefighters reportedly jumped in to stop the assault that was said to have happened a few feet from a police roadblock the officers looking away and making no attempt to help or arrest the perpetrators.

Police sources not named told Kathimerini that the attackers were wearing insignia from the AEK soccer team, whose backers are known for hooliganism, but the TV team didn't confirm it.

But they said that the attackers cursed TV stations and the way they have covered the anti-vaccination movement, leading them to believe they were among Greece's far-right anti-vaxxer movement that thinks vaccines are an international plot to control their bodies and minds.