Greece: Racist attacks on immigrants grow

ATHENS, Greece, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The number of racist attacks on immigrants in Greece is on the rise, fueled in part by anger over government austerity measures, officials say.

The Greek Council for Refugees says the rise is due to a government campaign to round up undocumented immigrants to help quell public anger over cuts in government spending, Euronews reported Saturday.

Council spokesman Spiros Rizakis said the government's current approach has "fed extremist and racist opinions" which have led to "attacks on a daily basis."

Members of the ultra-nationalistic party Golden Dawn showed up last month at a market of immigrant stallholders in the town of Rafina and destroyed the stalls of anyone who couldn't show the correct documentation.