Greek court charges 97 Croats with murder, assault and possession of explosives

August 10 - Nearly 100 Croatian fans have appeared in an Athens court to face criminal charges including murder and membership in a criminal organization for their alleged involvement in this week's deadly violence that led to the postponement of the Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb.

The handcuffed youths – many with their shirts pulled over their heads to hide their identities – appeared before an investigative judge on Wednesday, 24 hours after a 29-year-old Greek fan was stabbed to death.

Court officials said the magistrate issued blanket charges against the 103 suspects, including 97 Croatian nationals.

The indictments also included charges of assault and unlawful possession and use of explosive materials. The murder charge will likely be dropped for most defendants as the investigation continues.

Amateur video of the attack showed dozens of youths wielding bats and iron bars running past the stadium as flares and Molotov cocktails exploded. Ten people were injured and four remain hospitalized.

Greek Public Order Minister Yannis Oikonomou says police made 'tragic mistakes' by failing to arrest traveling Croatian fans and failing to act on information indicating clashes were likely. The day before the murder, Montenegrin officials warned Greek police that 120 Croatian fans in 21 vehicles were heading for Athens via Albania.

Oikonomou rejected calls from opposition parties to resign and instead suspended seven police officers, including several in senior positions. He said it was "unacceptable and unacceptable" that the convoy was allowed to cross the country unchallenged.

Outside the AEK training ground, fans paid tribute to the supporter who was killed - identified by family members as Michalis Katsouris from a town near Athens - in leaving flowers and candles at the site where he died.

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