NEWS

Six suspected terrorists caught

Greek police appear to have made the most significant breakthrough in their efforts to halt domestic terrorism for almost a decade, as they announced yesterday that six suspected members of extremist guerrilla group, Revolutionary Struggle, have been arrested. Police spokesman Thanassis Kokkalakis said that after raids on several properties in Athens and other parts of Greece, five men (Nikolaos Maziotis, 39; Evangelos Stathopoulos, 32; Christoforos Kortesis, 31; Sarantos Nikitopoulos, 32, and Constantinos Gournas, 30) and one woman (Panayiota Roupa, 41) had been detained. «During searches on homes, many findings were seized and are now being examined,» said Kokkalakis, adding that at a house in Kalyvia, east of Athens, used by Maziotis and Roupa, officers confiscated a computer that contained several proclamations by Revolutionary Struggle. Hand-drawn plans of possible targets were also found. Revolutionary Struggle first emerged in 2003 and is best known for its attack with a rocket-propelled grenade on the US Embassy in Athens in 2007. The group also claimed an armed attack last year that left a riot policeman severely injured. Its proclamations mostly consist of anti-capitalist, anti-establishment rhetoric. Police did not give details on what led to the arrests but it is believed they were prompted by information officers gained following the shooting of microbiologist Lambros Fountas on March 10 as he attempted to steal a car with an accomplice. Police believe Fountas was linked to the group and checks on his possessions are likely to have provided police with leads. Officers also suggested one of the six suspects accompanied Fountas on the night he was shot in an exchange of fire with police.

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