NEWS

Six get jail terms for terrorist attacks

An Athens court on Tuesday passed down jail sentences to six people deemed to be members of the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire guerrilla group and linked to two bloodless bomb attacks, on the home of former deputy public order minister Panayotis Hinofotis and the home of PASOK MP Louka Katseli, as well as blast at the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry building in Thessaloniki in 2009.

The suspects, five men and one woman, received sentences ranging from 11 to 25 years. The six, aged 18 to 31, are Haris Hatzimichelakis, Panayiotis Argyrou, Giorgos Karagiannidis, Panayiotis Masouras, Constantina Karakatsani and Alexandros Mitrousias.

The heaviest sentences – 25-year jail terms – went to Hatzimichelakis and Argyrou who were found guilty of founding the guerrilla group. Karagiannidis was close behind them, getting 20 years. The others got 11-year terms.

Another suspect, Manolis Yiospas, was convicted on lighter sentences of robbery and fraud. Two others – Nikos Vogiatzakis and Errikos Rallis – were found not guilty.

The trial, which started in January, took place in the court room of the Korydallos prison, where members of Greece?s deadliest guerrilla group November 17 were tried in 2003.

The Conspiracy of Fire Cells also has claimed a wave of parcel bombs against foreign embassies and the offices of European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel last November.

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