Greek far-left group claims blast outside politician's home



ATHENS - A Greek far-left group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a small bomb detonated outside the Athens home of a prominent conservative Eurodeputy, police said.
The outfit, Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, said it carried out the Friday attack over Marietta Giannakou's former role as education minister in 2004-2007 when she headed a set of unpopular reforms which sparked student protests.



Greek far-left group claims blast outside politician's home
"We do not forget what each of us served in the course of their lives, particularly when that person shows no regret," read a proclamation posted in the group's name on a left-wing Internet site.
An unidentified caller had issued a warning 20 minutes before the low-yield device went off early on Friday morning, damaging the front of the building and a nearby car. No injuries were reported
It was the group's second attack after police earlier this month said they had arrested four youths in connection with its activities.
A week after the arrests and on the eve of a general election, the outfit said it also set off a small bomb during the New Democracy party's main campaign rally in Athens, near the grandstand where then Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was scheduled to speak.
The blast broke windows at neighbouring shops and caused minor damage to motorbikes parked nearby but the rally went ahead without further incident.
All of the group's recent strikes have employed explosives hidden in pressure cookers.
Leftist extremists have launched a number of attacks on police targets since riots last December triggered by the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old youth.
Earlier this week six police officers were injured in an automatic weapons attack on a police post. No one has claimed responsibility for that attack.
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Saturday, October 31st 2009
AFP
           


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