Authorities in Greece have blamed domestic militant groups – that have carried out bombings against police and government buildings despite a crackdown on terrorism before the Athens Olympics in 2004 – for the rocket-propelled grenade attack on the United States embassy in Athens on Friday.
Athens police said that so far there has been no evidence connecting the attack to any international terrorist plot.
Police are examining the authenticity of two calls claiming responsibility from the group Revolutionary Struggle, which has carried out six bombings since 2003. This shadowy group has denounced the United States in past statements, citing treatment of prisoners at the US military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
“It is very likely that this is the work of a domestic group," Public Order Minister Yron Polydoras said. “We believe this effort to revive terrorism is deplorable and will not succeed," he asserted.
On Friday, a rocket-propelled grenade slammed into the US embassy in Athens, causing limited damage and no injuries, but reviving fears of a resurgence of the far-left.
The shoulder-fired missile narrowly missed a large blue-and-white US seal on the embassy’s facade and damaged a third-floor bathroom, near the ambassador’s office.
US Ambassador Charles Ries has described the attack as "very serious" and said no warning had been given.
“There can be no justification for such a senseless act of violence," Ambassador Ries told reporters outside the embassy.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington that the United States saw no early signs of international involvement. The Pentagon, US Defence Department, received a report on the attack, but no request for any action, a US military official said.
The blast which occurred at 5.58 a.m. on Friday shattered windows in nearby buildings. Traffic in the downtown area came to a standstill for three hours as police blocked streets around the building to gather evidence.
The Greek government said it was seeking permission from the courts to view video from traffic cameras which, under Greek privacy laws, is officially excluded from the police investigation.
The attack on the US embassy resembled methods used by members of the far-left terrorist group named ‘November 17’ that had eluded police from 1975 to 2003.
Public opposition to the US policies – in particular the invasion of Iraq – has been strong in Greece since Washington provided support for a 1967-74 military dictatorship.Friday’s attack was the third against the US embassy since the mid-1970s.
'November 17' had carried out a similar rocket attack against the US embassy in 1996, causing minor damage and no injuries.Labels: International Politics |
