Tensions escalated significantly today in Heraklion, where the farmers' protest took on large proportions and was accompanied by violent incidents.

The situation spiraled out of control after the farmers' decision to block the Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, a measure that was taken at a meeting held early in the morning.

The farmers' attempt to break through the police barricades led to the immediate intervention of the security forces, who used chemical weapons and stun grenades to disperse them. Footage from the scene shows farmers throwing stones at the police, as tension grew by the minute.

 

At the height of the clash, a patrol vehicle was overturned by protesters. During the incidents, a civilian and a police officer were injured.
Despite police intervention, a group of farmers managed to get past the security cordon and headed towards the roundabout in front of the airport gate. Meanwhile, the farmers also decided to block the main road leading to the airport, causing traffic chaos. Dozens of drivers were stranded, and some were forced to turn their cars through green spaces and palm trees to get out of the area.
Farmers from all over Crete — Heraklion, Lasithi and Rethymno — gathered at the Pancretan Stadium in the morning with dozens of tractors and agricultural equipment, decorated with black and Greek flags, as well as protest banners. From there, the motorized march began towards the airport, where it was blocked for an indefinite period.
Photographs and footage from the field show not only the tension of the situation, but also the determination of the farmers not to retreat until their demands are met.
Farmers declare that the protest will continue, while law enforcement remains deployed in the area to avoid further escalation.