Beginning in 1996, RN claimed responsibility for a series of minor bombings of government buildings, banks and other economic targets. All RN targets are chosen as symbols of capitalism and perceived U.S. imperialism in Greece.

Companies that have been targeted include Citigroup, Texaco and Barclays Bank. Since 2000, RN has not claimed responsibility for any attacks. However, Greek authorities were concerned that the RN and other groups might target the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

 

RN will usually place a call to the media just before an attack. The group tends to focus on the destruction of property and not individuals. Only one RN attack has resulted in a death, and most have caused no casualties. It uses simple timing devices for its bombs. Most RN attacks take place in the early morning or late evening.

 

RN is believed to be the successor to the ELA, which began operations in 1971. However, ELA has not claimed responsibility for an attack since 1995. ELA activities included bombings of Greek government and economic interests, as well as U.S. and European commercial and military facilities.

ELA was established in 1971 in opposition to the ruling military regime in Athens. For a time, the leftist ELA was considered to be the most active Greek terrorist group, though it has not claimed an attack since 1995.

 

In 1996, RN began claiming responsibility for several bombings in the Athens area. Its target list and avowed philosophy were very similar to ELA. It was also rumored that two groups had overlapping membership. It has since become evident that RN is a direct offshoot of ELA. The U.S. State Dept. has replaced ELA with RN on its list of designated foreign terrorist organizations.

 

After the murder of British military attache Stephen Saunders in 2000 by the November 17 group, Greece implemented several counter-terrorist measures. Greek police hoped that the arrests of several November 17 members in July 2002 would lead to information about other terrorist groups.

1971
Espanastatikos Laikos Agonas (Revolutionary People's Struggle, or ELA) was established to oppose the military junta in Athens.

ELA halted terrorist activity.

Revolutionary Nuclei began claiming responsibility for minor bombings in Athens.

May 21: An RN bomb damaged a Barclays Bank branch in Athens.

April 27: RN claimed responsibility for a bombing at the Hotel Intercontinental in Athens that left one dead and one wounded.

 

Dec. 20: RN detonated a bomb outside Texaco's office in Athens.

Oct. 17: Police foiled a RN plot to blow up the home of former Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis.

 

Nov. 13: Citigroup and a Greek-American sculptor were targeted in separate RN bombings.

2003