Robbery probe requires caution
The bloody raid on a bank in central Athens a few days ago dramatically shifted the spotlight onto two issues that have animated Greek society over the past few years: first, the ability of the Greek police to guarantee the safety of citizens; and second, the extent to which domestic terrorism has been curbed following the dissolution of the November 17 group in 2003. In view of the emotional reaction triggered by Monday’s incident, the risk it posed to several passers-by during the exchange of fire between police and robbers (which thankfully did not result in any serious injuries), and the realization that some of the culprits belong to anarchist groups, there has been a temptation to jump to conclusions. Indeed many reacted by characterizing Athens as the «new Chicago,» where citizens are vulnerable to the consequences of armed robberies at any time. Others are convinced of the existence of a new breed of terrorists who are resorting to robberies in order to finance their activities, as was the case with N17. Of course, it’s clear that authorities should take Monday’s bloody raid with all due seriousness. The search for the culprits behind the robbery needs to be completed as soon as possible, and the possibility of a terrorist link needs to be properly investigated and substantiated. But all this needs to be done without creating an uneasy atmosphere among residents of Athens, which has always been a relatively safe city, and without the media blowing out of proportion the activities of an unknown, self-styled terrorist group.
