Violence hits Mykonos over efforts to preserve ancient heritage

Attack on archaeologist on Greece’s party island is thought to be linked to developers’ ‘out-of-control’ clamour to exploit the island

Under the cover of darkness in an Athens side street earlier this month, Manolis Psarros, an archaeologist, was attacked as he walked towards his car. It was 8.30pm, later than usual for the state employee to return home from his office in a neoclassical culture ministry building beneath the Acropolis.

“There was a general strike the next day and I needed to get through my files on Mykonos,” said Psarros, who oversees development on the Cycladic island. “I can remember approaching the car but after that it’s a blur,” he told the Observer. “All I know is that I was struck on the head from behind with such force I lost consciousness.”