THESSALONIKI — Police in northern Greece have arrested six people and detained at least 40 others following clashes involving youths backed by an extreme right-wing political group.

The youths entered a vocational high school and hurled gasoline bombs, flares and rocks at a rival gathering organized by left-wing university student groups against government education reforms.

The incident happened in the western Thessaloniki suburb of Stavroupoli where students at the vocational school EPAL were passing out fliers to show support for others who were assaulted previously for passing out anti-Fascist literature.

Golden Dawn's youth leaders issued a statement congratulating the perpetrators of the second attack in which video reportedly showed some using Nazi hand salutes in a violent confrontation that saw weapons used.

The Education Ministry condemned the violence and asked for an investigation, criticizing the actions of “isolated groups that tarnish the image of our schools [which are] areas of knowledge, creativity and free thinking,” said Kathimerini.

Members of the police’s riot division on Wednesday fire teargas to disperse a group of alleged far-right supporters after they attacked a protest rally held outside the school. (Photo by Eurokinissi)

“Violent behavior… will not be tolerated,” the statement said, adding that Education Minister Niki Kerameus asked a prosecutor to get involved over the incident that was so ferocious that riot police had to use tear gas to break it up.

Dozens of teens – it wasn't clear if they were also students at the school because they were wearing masks, hoods and motorcycle helmets – threw glass bottles and stones from inside the school against the demonstrators. 

Members of the police’s riot division on Wednesday fire teargas to disperse a group of alleged far-right supporters after they attacked a protest rally held outside the school. (Photo by Eurokinissi)

It wasn't reported if officials felt that Golden Dawn's remnants were regathering in the wake of the party's political leadership and dozens of members jailed for up to 13 years or more in some sentences.