Posted on 09/05/2003 8:04:23 AM PDT by knighthawk
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Two powerful time bombs exploded at Athens' main court complex Friday in attacks the government linked to the trial of suspected members of Greece's deadliest terrorist group.
The twin blasts, which injured a police officer and damaged a building in the closely guarded compound, also elevated concern among security officials preparing for the Athens Olympics, now less than a year away.
A group calling itself Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility in a call to an Athens newspaper. It did not give a reason for the pre-dawn attack.
Government spokesman Christos Protopapas suggested the bombings sought to influence the trial of 19 suspected members of the November 17 terrorist cell, which is blamed for 23 killings and dozens of attacks since 1975. The victims include four U.S. officials, two Turkish diplomats and a British defense envoy.
The group's alleged mastermind, 59-year-old Alexandros Giotopoulos, took the stand Thursday and denied all the charges against him. The trial is taking place inside a special bunker-like court in a maximum-security prison.
Since the trial began in March, groups using a variety of names have claimed responsibility for firebombings and other attacks in support of the November 17 suspects.
The explosions occurred within 20 minutes of each other at the fence-enclosed compound that includes courts, prosecutors' offices and other legal departments.
The area was mostly deserted when the first bomb went off at 2:50 a.m. A second - and stronger - bomb detonated just a few yards away at 3:10 a.m., injuring a police officer, authorities said.
The first bomb blew out windows and a door on one building. An armored police booth was damaged by the second blast. Except for the damaged building, the courts operated normally Friday.
Experts said the bombs were triggered by battery-operated clocks. They were similar to one placed by another group - calling itself Popular Revolutionary Action - outside the offices of a U.S.-based American Life Insurance Co., in July. The bomb did not explode.
Also Friday, arsonists threw gasoline bombs through a bank window in the northern city of Thessaloniki, causing minor damage but no injuries. An anarchist group claimed responsibility and demanded the release of jailed suspects from other arson gangs.
Greece's premier, Costas Simitis, is scheduled to make a series of speeches at an annual trade fair in Thessaloniki this weekend.
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
Presidential contender Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont and runaway frontrunner for the '04 nomination, sharply criticized the Bush administration on Friday, raising questions on whether U.S. troop commitments in Europe are adequate, and whether the Athens bombing could have been averted.
/sarcasm.
They know . . . they know . . .
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