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Greece court convicts November 17 mastermind, 14 others
FIFTEEN members of a Greek terrorist organisation thought to be responsible for the deaths of 23 people - including a British defence attache - were today convicted of killings and attacks spanning decades.
The rulings – following a nine month trial – were seen as a boost for Greece’s terrorist-fighting image before the Olympics next year.
November 17’s killings began in 1975 when a CIA station chief was ambushed returning home from a Christmas party.
Since then, American envoys, two Turkish diplomats and prominent Greek political and business figures have been killed.
November 17’s last victim was British defence attache Brig Stephen Saunders, killed in June 2000.
In the past, Greece was accused of lacking the political will to attack domestic terror groups led by November 17 - named after the day in 1973 when Greece’s military rulers crushed a student protest.
The three judge panel - working under Greece’s new anti-terrorism laws - issued blanket convictions against Alexandros Giotopoulos, 59, as the leader of the group.
Among the other 14 men convicted were several key figures including the main assassin, 45-year-old Dimitris Koufodinas, who is linked to most of the group’s slayings and was known by the code name "poison hand."
The entire group sat stone-faced as the head judge took more than 90 minutes to read the verdicts from the hundreds of charges that included bank robberies and bombings.
Sentencing is expected on Wednesday. Many of those found guilty face multiple life sentences.
The rulings – following a nine month trial – were seen as a boost for Greece’s terrorist-fighting image before the Olympics next year.
November 17’s killings began in 1975 when a CIA station chief was ambushed returning home from a Christmas party.
Since then, American envoys, two Turkish diplomats and prominent Greek political and business figures have been killed.
November 17’s last victim was British defence attache Brig Stephen Saunders, killed in June 2000.
In the past, Greece was accused of lacking the political will to attack domestic terror groups led by November 17 - named after the day in 1973 when Greece’s military rulers crushed a student protest.
The three judge panel - working under Greece’s new anti-terrorism laws - issued blanket convictions against Alexandros Giotopoulos, 59, as the leader of the group.
Among the other 14 men convicted were several key figures including the main assassin, 45-year-old Dimitris Koufodinas, who is linked to most of the group’s slayings and was known by the code name "poison hand."
The entire group sat stone-faced as the head judge took more than 90 minutes to read the verdicts from the hundreds of charges that included bank robberies and bombings.
Sentencing is expected on Wednesday. Many of those found guilty face multiple life sentences.
Particularly interesting part, my bold..
November 17’s beliefs were based on a mix of hard-line Marxism, Greek nationalism and opposition to the power of America and its main allies.
To you Paktis and other supporters of terrorism, my condolences.
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