NATIONALIST thugs attacked the mayor of Thessaloniki on Saturday after an event to mark the anniversary of the Pontic genocide, during which hundreds of thousands of Greeks were massacred by Turkish nationalists.

Yiannis Boutaris was accosted by a group of extremists, then video footage shows him falling to the ground after being struck by an object. He was then chased to his vehicle where the gang attempted to smash the windows.

The anti-nationalist mayor had been at a flag-lowering ceremony in memory of Greeks killed during World War I and the Greek-Turkish war that followed when he came under attack.

He was surrounded by dozens of people who shouted abuse before pelting him with bottles.

“It was a nightmare. There were several people that attacked me. They were hitting me everywhere.

“They were not Pontians. Pontians are my friends,” he said.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as "far-right bullies, who have to face the consequences of their actions.”

Mr Boutaris was taken to hospital, where he was treated for injuries to his head, back and legs.