A plaque commemorating the tragic deaths of three Marfin Bank employees and an unborn child who were killed in a fire set by rioters on May 5, 2010, was unveiled at the site of their death on Saturday.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and opposition Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata.
After the unveiling of the plaque, during a discussion with the relatives of those that died, President Sakellaropoulou noted that it was the least homage that was due to them and "important for the country," expressing hope that Greece will never live through similar events again.
The Prime Minister noted that the simple ceremony "honoured the memory of three of our fellow citizens, Paraskevi, pregnant Angeliki and Epaminondas, who were tragically murdered 10 years ago inside this very building."
"The symbolism of today's action is absolutely clear and unambiguous. The country must never again become a victim of blind division, hatred, or violence, which can never be excused no matter what its origin."
"Unfortunately, we did not manage to have all the political leaders here, as I believe all of Greek society would wish. It is a shame. Nonetheless we press forward leaving behind us these times with these memories etched vividly forever in our own, of a time that hurt us all a great deal and even more the families of the victims that are now seeking after a long delay their final vindication," he said.
The three bank employees, 32-year-old Angeliki Papathanasopoulou who was then in her fourth month of pregnancy, Epaminondas Tsakalis, aged 36, and Paraskevi Zoulia, aged 35 - were working in the bank on Stadiou Street with another 25-30 colleagues while a protest against austerity measures was underway. Rioters, whose identity have yet to be confirmed, threw fire bombs into the bank and started a fire while people were still inside. Most managed to get out and five were rescued by the fire brigade once it was able to get through the protest, but the tragic victims of the incident were trapped and died of smoke inhalation.
