Greek police accused of using girl as human shield during Merkel protest
Fury at photos of protester being frogmarched by officers as they confronted stone-throwing mob during German chancellor's Athens visit
Greek authorities have launched an investigation into allegations that riot police used a young female protester as a human shield at a rally during the visit to Athens by German chancellor Dr Angela Merkel this week.
Witnesses said the girl, who has yet to be identified, was frogmarched in handcuffs ahead of riot police as protesters threw stones at officers.
News of the investigation came as magistrates launched a separate inquiry into a Guardian report that anti-fascist protesters, arrested after clashing with extremists from the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, were subjected to torture by officers at the Attica General Police Directorate.
Human Rights Watch said accountability for police abuse was urgently needed.
The group said: "The scenes described by the victims are deeply shocking. No one should be treated that way by police."
The inquiry into the human- shield allegation was opened after photographs of the incident circulated on the internet.