Revolutionary Organization 17 November | |
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Επαναστατική Οργάνωση 17 Νοέμβρη | |
Leader | |
Dates of operation | 1975–2002 |
Country | Greece |
Motives |
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Active regions | Greece |
Ideology | |
Political position | Far-left |
Major actions | Assassinations, property damage, robbery |
Status | Defunct |
Means of revenue | Bank robbery |
Designated as a terrorist group by | Greece, Turkey, UK, US |
Revolutionary Organization 17 November (Greek: Επαναστατική Οργάνωση 17 Νοέμβρη, Epanastatiki Organosi dekaefta Noemvri), also known as 17N or the 17 November Group, was a Greek Marxist–Leninist urban guerrilla organization. Formed in 1975 and led by Alexandros Giotopoulos, 17N conducted an extensive urban guerrilla campaign of left-wing violence against the Greek state, banks, and businesses. The organization committed 103 known armed robberies, assassinations, and bombing attacks, during which 23 people were killed.[2]
The organization is known for targeting American, British and other foreign diplomats and military personnel, particularly in retribution against the United States for its support of the coup d'état and the dictatorship known as the Regime of the Colonels.[3] Their demands have included the removal of American military bases in Greece, the removal of Turkish military forces from Northern Cyprus and the withdrawal of Greece from NATO and the European Union. The Encyclopedia of Terrorism describes them as "a durable, lethal and successful group" who evaded authorities for over 25 years.[4]