Offices of Greek broadcaster ERT cleared by police

Greek police have cleared the offices of former Greek state broadcaster ERT, evicting former employees who have occupied the building since the government shut it down this summer.

According to press reports, riot police formed a cordon around the building in the early hours of the morning, then went through the building room-by-room clearing protestors.

One former ERT journalist, Nikos Kourovilos, who was still inside the offices, told the BBC by phone “they are in the building, they have control, they put everyone out.”

The Greek government controversially shut down ERT in June in a bid to save money, causing the loss of 2,700 jobs. However, fired staff continued to make broadcasts in from ERT’s headquarters defiance of the decision.