ATHENS – Squads of Greek police again went into the neighborhood of Koukaki under the Acropolis of anarchists who reoccupied an abandoned building, as residents of Exarchia protested and said authorities aren’t going after a gang that smashes windows to break into cars and threatens anyone trying to stop them.

Police raided the Koukaki buildings that had been emptied in December but officials said anarchists reoccupied them and were chased out again, said media reports.

Nine people who came to rally in support of the occupiers were detained as riot police flooded the area to handle any unrest as part of New Democracy’s plan to go after lawlessness and violence which Exarchia residents said is ignoring their plight.

Authorities believe the new squatters entered one building through a first-floor window, while at the other they used a ladder, said Kathimerini, the events unfolding at the same spot where a month earlier a raid drew criticism for alleged police brutality.

At Exarchia, where police  have also gone after squatters, residents at a demonstration outside the main police precinct said the criminal gang there keeps up robberies.

“The smashing of cars and the robberies are daily events, many of which happen in broad daylight,” they said in the letter. “The few residents who react are targeted either by being attacked with stones or are openly threatened with scissors, knives, etc.” the paper said.