Former MEP and neo-Nazi Ioannis Lagos walks angrily out of court room

Sentenced neo-Nazi and former MEP Ioannis Lagos had an outburst during an appeals court case of the criminal organization Golden Dawn on Friday and walked out.

During a witness' testimony on Golden Dawn attacks against the city of Ioannina, including vandalism of Hebrew Community monuments in the area, Lagos lost his temper.

The witness Alexandros Raptis, a history researcher writing for a local Ioannina newspaper, had started listing various incidents of violence by Golden Dawn, and said the public rallies of the group created tensions. "Local society did not want this event to happen because there are interstate relations and agreements.

There was a lot of tension. This notorious group came from Athens, 300-400 individuals, created incidents at the central square, hit college students and citizens opposing the gathering. They operated like similar attack groups if 1933."

Annoyed, Lagos said, "Right, this court case is supposedly not political! I am a Nazi! Will you prosecute me for that? So we can get out of here at some point? I have never said this ever before, I will now, you have brought me to the end of my tether with the questions. I am a national socalist! Don't embarrass yourselves any longer, condemn me and get it over. You have a picturesque witness here and are not embarrassed about it, you ridiculous people!"

Lagos walked out of the court room. The lawyer speaking on behalf of Egyptian fishermen, one of the cases of violence by Golden Dawn being examined, asked that Lagos' outburst is recorded in the court minutes. Speaking on behalf of the victims, he noted, "It is very important - it's the first time that something like that is openly admitted."

The court broke for nearly an hour before resuming.

AMNA