NCJ Number
196869
Journal
Jane's Intelligence Review Volume: 14 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 6-10
Editor(s)
Christopher C. Aaron
Date Published
September 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article offers a look at the European terrorist group and Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N) and the attempt by investigators to disrupt and dismantle the revolutionary Greek terrorist group.
Abstract
The Revolutionary Terrorist Organization, 17 November (17N) was established in 1975 and took its name from a day in 1973 when the Greek military junta (1967-1974) sent tanks into Athens Polytechnic School to put down a student uprising where 20 students died. 17N claims to be an ideological movement committed to Marxist-Leninist ideals. Over the past three decades, the group’s operations and evolution have been understated and underestimated. It is known that the group split into two factions in the early 1990's. One faction was from the Greek island of Ikaria and the other from Thesprotia (northwestern Greece). 17N has been held responsible for 23 assassinations and over 140 attacks. From its inception until July 2002, there had been no investigative breakthroughs or criminal convictions related to 17N’s operations in Greece. However, June 29, 2002, was the beginning of a 6-week timeline that lead to 14 arrests and the confiscation of weapons, disguises, and paperwork. The events began from an accidental explosion at the Port of Piraeus injuring a 17N member. Nine of the 14 arrests were from the Ikaria faction group and most were not considered to be part of the leadership structure. It was suggested that the explosion was initiated to eliminate the ideological underpinnings of 17N. In addition, the arrests were politically complicated by the fact that they occurred just months after the Greek anti-terrorism law was passed, promoting lenient sentences for terrorists willing to confess and turnover information. Based on current Greek counter-terrorist developments, it may be concluded that a significant component of 17N met its demise. However, most senior ideological leaders of 17N remain free. Even with the disruption of 17N, there is concern they may join forces with ELA (Revolutionary Popular Struggle) to form a new anti-imperialist, anti-globalization movement. Greece continues to learn how to address the threat posed by criminal and terrorist groups.