ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek police say they have detained eight people after the U.S. Embassy in Athens was vandalized with paint.

Police said Monday the eight were detained after about 10 people on motorbikes threw red paint at the embassy's parking entrance at around 3:30 a.m. local time. An anarchist group known as Rouvikonas claimed responsibility for the attack in an internet post.

It cited "American imperialism" as well as Greece's deal with neighbouring Macedonia for the latter to change its name to North Macedonia in return for NATO membership, and the recent US decision to pull out of Syria, a move it said delivers Kurdish forces there "to the semi-fascist state of Turkey."

Rouvikonas has carried out similar paint attacks in the past against embassies, Greek state organisations and political party offices.