U.S. Embassy In Athens Attacked
No Injuries, Minimal Damage In Rocket Attack; Greek Police Suspect Domestic Terrorists
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Play CBS Video Video U.S. Embassy Attack In Athens An anti-tank shell struck the third floor of the U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece. Greek officials are calling it an act of terrorism. Susan Roberts reports.
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Athens police believe a nearby construction site was used for the launch of an anti-tank shell at the U.S. Embassy early Friday Jan. 12, 2007, breaking a third floor window near the U.S. seal on the building. (AP)
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U.S. Ambassador Charles Ries, talking to reporters outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, called the blast "a very serious attack." (AP)
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The streets surrounding the U.S. Embassy in Athens were off-limits Jan. 12, 2007, as investigators raced to find whoever and whatever fired a self-exploding anti-tank shell at the embassy compound. (AP)
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The U.S. Embassy in Athens, seen here in 2004 file photo. (AP (file))
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"I came here to express the solidarity of the Greek people following this deplorable action," she said.
"Such actions in the past have had a very heavy cost for the country. ... The Greek government is determined to undertake every effort to not allow such phenomena to be repeated in the future."
Giorgos Yiannoulis runs a kiosk near the embassy. "I heard a loud bang; I didn't realize what was going on," he said.
According to the terrorist group database maintained by the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) and funded by the U.S. government's Department of Homeland Security, authorities first became aware of the group Revolutionary Struggle [Epanastatikos Aghonas or EA] in 2003 when it was linked to a bomb attack on the Athens courthouse complex.
According to MIPT, Revolutionary Struggle embraces a socialist and somewhat anarchist philosophy, tends to target government buildings and officials and although apparently operating on a small scale, is considered to be "the most active" Greek terrorist group since the demise of the November 17th group.
The explosion smashed some of the glass in the front of the embassy, near the U.S. emblem on the building.
"I heard a loud bang - I didn't realize what was going on," said Giorgos Yiannoulis, who runs a kiosk near the embassy.
The U.S. diplomatic compound is located on a main street in Athens and has in the past been the site of demonstrations and protests, some of them aimed at the Bush administration.
The blast is the first major attack against a U.S. target in more than a decade, following the arrest of members of Greece's far-left November 17 terrorist group. The group was blamed for killing 23 people — including U.S., British and Turkish officials — and dozens of bomb attacks.
In 2003, a special court gave multiple life sentences to November 17's leader, chief assassin and three other members. Lesser sentences were given to ten others.
November 17 carried out a rocket attack against the U.S. embassy in 1996, causing minor damage and no injuries.
Several obscure militant groups have appeared since the November 17 members were arrested, and on three occasions in 2005, government ministries were bombed.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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