VIOLENCE AFTER MORIA FIRE The September fires in Moria Camp grabbed international attention with images of burning tents and thousands sleeping on the streets. In recent years, Moria has become infamous for its inhumane living conditions, systemic neglect and state violence: a grim symbol of Europe‘s border policy. Yet, following the fire, punitive police repression dovetailed with long-standing forms of structural violence to create a situation where people impacted by the fire were stripped of all options and forced into a new temporary camp in the Kara Tepe area - despite clear demands for evacuation and freedom of movement. In the months leading up to the fire, tensions on Lesvos soared over the building of closed camps, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid deterioration of living conditions in Moria and the fact that 20,000 people remained confined in a space originally built for 3,000. Since February, the state’s effort to open closed camps on Lesvos has been met with heavy opposition from locals against having migrants on the island. In the Spring there was a surge in violence against POM by far-right vigilante groups, who set up roadblocks to do informal ID checks, attacked migrant boats and even shot at POM. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Greece, Moria was placed under a lockdown that in practice became a permanent structure, enduring long after restrictions were lifted for the rest of the island. Despite reports that far-right groups brought canisters of gasoline to help it spread, the exact cause of the fire is unknown. What is clear, however, is that those fleeing the fire, many attempting to reach the Island’s capital Mytilini, were prevented from doing so by the police, who established blockades. On the smaller streets through Moria Village, locals, together with known fascists, blocked roads. Armed with sticks, rocks, and often wearing balaclavas, these groups intimidated, harassed and even attacked POM that were attempting to escape the blaze, according to BVMN respondents. The following night came more fires, and the remnants of the camp burned. By the 10th of September, nearly all POM formerly living in Moria camp were sleeping rough on the streets and in the hills between Moria, Panagiouda, and Karatepe. Hemmed in by police using teargas and stun grenades, they could not move on. Several witnesses describe POM being heavily attacked with teargas - at times directly fired at people’s legs or heads - assaulted and beaten with batons. Thousands were trapped there for over a week without access to food, shelter or water. In the first days, POM organised demonstrations, demanding freedom and not to be sent to another camp, that were met with more teargas and mass detentions.