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Policeman shot dead in Greece

@ | 17.06.2009 17:52 | Social Struggles

Gunmen have shot dead a policeman in an early morning attack in the Greek capital, Athens.

Gunmen have shot dead a policeman in an early morning attack in the Greek capital, Athens.

The officer was hit many times as he sat in a car on guard duty outside the home of a witness in a terrorism trial.

The trial involves a now-defunct left-wing group known as the Revolutionary People's Struggle.

Officials say no attempt was made by the unidentified attackers to approach the home of the witness. Reports say there were at least two gunmen.

There have been a number of acts of violence blamed on left-wing and anarchist groups since the killing of a 15-year-old boy by police in December.

That incident sparked the worst riots in Greece for many years.

Multiple gunshots

The coroner, Philippos Koutsaftis, said the 41-year-old policeman shot on Wednesday was carrying a holstered firearm.

"He was hit many times by shots that appear to have been fired at close range," Mr Koutsaftis said.

A police spokesman, Panagiotis Stathis, said the victim had been shot with "at least 15 to 20 bullets".

Police say the attackers disappeared into the streets of the Patissia district and a hunt was launched in the area to try to find them.

The left-wing group at the centre of the trial, the Revolutionary People's Struggle - or ELA - was blamed for many attacks in Greece over a 20-year period, before disbanding in the mid-1990s.

The attack was similar to one claimed by another left-wing group in January. On that occasion, the officer targeted survived.


 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8104799.stm

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Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

nice one

18.06.2009 19:45

1 less...

acab


nice one

18.06.2009 19:47

1 less..

acab


@ acab

18.06.2009 21:43

Yeah one more family who will be saying hello to daddy...

... you insensitive nobend........... you know nothing about this cops background.

The sort of comment I'd expect about an anarchist bookfair book sale

Bob


+++

19.06.2009 09:30

Nice one from me too, one less scum walking the streets.

If daddy wasn't part of an oppressive force poor family wouldn't have to say hello.

Beat the filth


Himmler

19.06.2009 19:26

Yeah, one less potential deathcamp guard. Poor little daddy!

ACAB2