POLICE ATTACKED WITH WEAPON LINKED TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000011 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SOCI GR SUBJECT: POLICE ATTACKED WITH WEAPON LINKED TO REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE TERROR GROUP REF: A. 08 ATHENS 1692 ¶B. 08 ATHENS 1720 Classified By: DCM DEBORAH MCCARTHY. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Greece abruptly shifted attention from Gaza back to domestic concerns when domestic terrorists fired upon a police patrol guarding the Ministry of Culture in the Exarchia region of Athens on January 5. One police officer was critically wounded. Police officials have announced that the perpetrators fired at least 25 rounds from an AK-47 and -- more significantly -- from a 9 mm sub-machine gun that had been stolen from security forces by the "Revolutionary Struggle" domestic terrorist group. We continue to monitor aggressively the growing domestic terrorist threat. End Summary. -------------- Machine Gun Attack on Police -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Shortly after 0300on January 5, two unidentified gunmen opened fire on a Hellenic Police anti-riot detail that was guarding the Ministry of Culture -- which is located near the anarchist area of the Exarchia square and the Athens Polytechnic campus. A 21-year-old police officer was critically wounded and remains in critical condition after several hours of surgery. The police have recovered over 25 shell casings from the attack. Prime Minister Karamanlis has already visited the hospital and told reporters afterwards, "Our democracy is strong. The rule of law is the strongest protection for every citizen. We will not allow anyone to put in doubt what we have won with the struggles and sacrifices of all Greeks." At this time, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. ¶3. (SBU) According to police statements, the weapons used in the attack were an AK-47 and a MP5 sub-machine gun (which fires 9 mm cartridges). Most significantly police investigators announced that the MP5 sub-machine gun used in the attack had been stolen by domestic terrorists during attacks against the police -- the most notable of these attacks were an April 2007 attack on a Special Guard who was guarding the residence of a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a 12/31/2004 killing of a Special Guard who had been guarding the residence of the British DATT. Domestic terrorist group "Revolutionary Struggle" was believed responsible for both attacks. The police have also noted that the stun grenade used by the attackers to facilitate their escape was "of the same type" as stun grenades used by domestic terrorist group November 17. ¶4. (C) As noted reftels, we continue to monitor aggressively the growing domestic terrorist threat. The ongoing riots in Greece have created space for domestic terrorists given exhausted and demoralized security services, popular dissatisfaction and angst, and a distracted government. The fact that a weapon known to be in the hands of "Revolutionary Struggle" has now been used in an attack on the police underscores the increasing risk that domestic terrorists may be planning a more active phase in operations. SPECKHARD