November 17 Terror Group Allegedly Buried Explosives Found Behind Historic Olympic Stadium in Athens

August 4, 2002
By Derek Gatopoulos Associated Press Writer


ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Anti-terrorist police found a small quantity of explosives Sunday buried near a landmark 19th century marble stadium that is scheduled to be used in the 2004 Olympic Games.

The horseshoe-shaped stadium - a major tourist attraction - was also the site in 1896 of the first modern Olympics.

The discovery is part of a relentless effort to topple the once elusive November 17 terrorist group, which has suffered its first blows after outwitting authorities for 27 years.

But it was not immediately clear whether the cache belonged to November 17 or other smaller Greek urban guerrilla cells, police said.

Published reports, meanwhile, suggested that November 17 had compiled a long list of potential targets in the past decade, including NATO peacekeepers and the U.S. consulate in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

One hand grenade, detonators and a small quantity of dynamite were buried in a shallow pit on a hill overlooking the all-marble stadium. The venue is scheduled to be the finish of the marathon during the 2004 Olympics and could host other events.

Security at the 2004 Games is a major concern for organizers who plan to spend a record $600 million on making the Olympics safe. Athens in the past has faced international criticism for previously failing to deal with the deadly urban guerrilla group.

Fifteen suspected members of November 17 have been arrested since a bungled bomb attack injured one of its alleged operatives in late June.

But police are continuing a major sweep against the group amid fears of retaliatory action from members still at large.

November 17 is blamed by police for 23 killings and scores of bomb and rocket attacks in support of its extreme Marxist and nationalistic agenda. The group - which first emerged in 1975 by gunning down the CIA station chief in Athens - is named for the day in 1973 when military rulers crushed a student-led protest.

Its last victim was British defense attache Brig. Stephen Saunders in June 2000.

Police are investigating its possible links with other militant groups active in the 1980s and 1990s.

Military bases around Greece were also placed on alert after weapons were stolen from an armory on the holiday island of Kos near the Turkish coast.

Police are investigating a possible connection to November 17. State-run NET television reported that an anonymous caller who claimed to be a member of the group said he carried out the heist.

The army said Sunday the stolen weapons included 17 .45-caliber handguns, three automatic rifles and three machine guns. Such guns have been favored by the group in the past.

Police have seized large weapons consignments allegedly belonging to November 17 and uncovered attack plans, including a strike against a convoy of NATO peacekeepers traveling through northern Greece en route to Balkan missions.

The assault was never carried out, but it suggested the group had the resources and depth to contemplate major operations and conduct detailed reconnaissance.

According to information leaked to Greek newspapers, November 17 kept precise records on potential targets, including foreign schools and the American and other consulates in Thessaloniki.

The reports said the data was found on computer discs taken at suspected November 17 safe houses.

The group reportedly used an array of code-words to refer to targets: "uglies" for police; "no misters" for American soldiers; "baskets" for bombs; and "noses" for rockets.

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