7/5/2005
Athens Traffic Cameras TorchedFive traffic cameras in Athens, Greece were set on fire over the weekend.
On Saturday, five traffic cameras in Athens, Greece were set on fire. Police believe the attack was a coordinated effort by activists opposed to their use as speed cameras and bus lane enforcement devices as each camera had been located in a distinct section of the city. Seven additional cameras had been destroyed in June.
Many residents protested the installation of 293 closed-circuit TV cameras during the 2004 Olympic games because the units are not appropriate in a free society (see photo). The city of Athens is regarded as the birthplace of democracy, having established a free government in the sixth century B.C.