Military Periscope :: Revolutionary Struggle

Revolutionary Struggle

Group Name:

Revolutionary Struggle (also Epanastatikos Aghonas, EA)

Location/Area of Operation:

Greece.

Stated Purpose:

The ostensible objectives of Revolutionary Struggle are vaguely socialist-anarchist -- embracing strong opposition to the current Greek government and the existing pro-capitalist economic structure of Greece. More generally, the group is opposed to the economic and political philosophy of the West. It has also expressed opposition to the U.S presence in Iraq.

Strength:

Fewer than 100.

External Aid and Links:

The group has unconfirmed links with the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Activities:

The Revolutionary Struggle is a violent group that has yet to demonstrate any inclination towards strictly political means to achieve its objectives. The group has claimed responsibility for homemade bombing attacks, utilizing remote-controlled devices. In one incident, the group was suspected of firing missiles at a government target.

Overview:

The Greek extremist group Revolutionary Struggle (also known as EA for Epanastatikos Aghonas) first surfaced in 2003 when it bombed a courthouse complex in Athens. The group, which has expressed a socialist-anarchist bent, has since targeted political leaders and government institutions. Security forces believe EA is a small-scale operation. However, it is the most active Greek terrorist organization since the effective end of the notorious November 17 group. Authorities are divided as to whether the EA group evolved from the remnants of November 17.

EA members have been both violent and elusive. There are no reliable details about the group's size or organizational structure. While no fatalities have been attributed to Revolutionary Struggle's attacks, that has not been for a lack of effort. The ability of the group's members to remain at large could make it an attractive ally for other revolutionaries. A possible link between Revolutionary Struggle and the Kosovo Liberation Army has been noted by the Washington-based International Strategic Studies Association.

Economic instability in Greece during 2009 and early 2010 may have opened opportunities for the group's anti-capitalist posture.

Group Chronology:

2003
Sept. 5: Two bombs exploded in the early morning hours at the main court complex in Athens. One policeman was injured. Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility for the attack -- the group's first.

2004
March: Revolutionary Struggle was suspected of bombing a multi-national bank building in Athens.

May: The group bombed a police station in Athens; there were no fatalities. The incident occurred just 100 days prior to the 2004 Olympic games. The EA issued a statement critical of the security crackdown and the additional tourism that would result from hosting the games.

December: Security forces attributed the slaying of a police sentry outside a diplomatic compound in Kifissia on New Year's Eve to Revolutionary Struggle.

2005
June: Revolutionary Struggle was suspected of a bombing outside of the Labor Dept. building.

December: The group claimed responsibility for detonating a homemade device in front of the Economy and Finance Ministry in Athens, injuring three people. Revolutionary Struggle said the bombing was a reaction to the government's economic policy and blamed police for not acting upon a phone warning of the pending attack.

2006
May 30: The Revolutionary Struggle attempted to assassinate George Voulgarakis, the Greek culture minister and former public order minister. Two pounds of explosives were strapped to a bicycle and then detonated via remote control. The blast damaged some parked cars and a school building, but caused no injuries. EA took responsibility, claiming of the attack was a reaction to Greek involvement in the U.S.-led "war on terror" as well as the alleged participation of the minister in the interrogation of Pakistani residents.

2007
January: The group fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, damaging glass at the front of the building and area near the U.S. ambassador's office. There were no personal injuries. The Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility. Security forces said that the weapon involved may have been smuggled into Greece from Kosovo.

April: Gunmen attacked the Nea Ionia police station in Athens. In May, EA claimed responsibility for the incident. One of the guns used against the police station was subsequently employed in a January 2009 attack, according to police ballistics evidence.

2008
Oct. 24: An attempted bomb attack outside Royal Dutch Shell's headquarters in the south of Athens failed. The Revolutionary Struggle group later claimed responsibility.

2009
Jan. 5: Gunmen attacked a police guard unit at the Ministry of Culture, wounding at least one security official. Police later determined from ballistics evidence that one of the guns involved had previously been used in an April 2007 attack carried out by the Revolutionary Struggle.

March 12: The Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility for two attacks on Citibank facilities in Athens. A weekly newspaper often used by the group to reflect its views carried a statement attributed to EA. The group said it was responsible for a failed car bomb attack on Feb. 10, as well as a bomb attack in early March at a suburban Citibank office. The March attack caused some damage but no injuries. In the statement, the group promised it would continue its violent campaign against global capitalism.

April 29: The U.S. State Dept. officially designated the Revolutionary Struggle (Epanastatikos Aghonas) as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

July 3: Militants bombed a McDonald's restaurant in Athens around 4 a.m., causing damage but no injuries. Police blamed EA for the attack.

Sept. 9: EA claimed responsibility for a bomb attack against the Athens stock exchange on Sept. 2. The bomb, planted in a van, caused significant damage and minor injuries to one person.

Last Updated:

February 2010