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Greek Police: ‘Far-Left Group’ Behind Attack on Israeli Embassy

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Police outside Israeli Embassy in Athens

Greek police on Friday, Dec 12, said a far-left group was likely responsible for a night-time gun attack on the Israeli embassy in Athens that saw the building sprayed with gunfire but no one hurt.

Two Kalashnikov assault rifles used in the attack had been used in a similar attack on the residence of the German ambassador last December by the People’s Fighter Group, a police source said, according to AFP.

A gunman riding on the back of a motorcycle raked the embassy with at least 54 rounds from a Kalashnikov rifle, police said, as it passed the embassy, which sits on the corner of a busy road in the affluent northern suburbs of the Greek capital.

Television footage showed bullet holes on the side of the embassy building.

“There were two bursts of gunfire…they must have emptied an entire clip,” the attendant of a neighboring petrol station told reporters.

Another two people on a second motorcycle were suspected of also taking part in the attack, which happened at 3:20 a.m. local time.

Public Order Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who visited the scene, condemned the attack and told the Ana news agency earlier Friday, “No one is going to affect the relations between Greece and Israel.”

“Every terrorist attack is an assault on democracy and the country,” said government spokeswoman Sophia Voultepsi, who added the Athens was taking “determined steps” against terror groups.

The People’s Fighter Group had also fired on the offices of the ruling conservative New Democracy party in January 2013.

Embassies and diplomatic vehicles in Greece have been targeted in attacks by far-left groups in recent years.

The residence of the German ambassador in Athens has been hit twice — with two assault rifles in 2013 and a rocket attack in 1999. No one was hurt.

In 2007, another rocket was fired at the U.S. embassy in Athens without injuring anyone.

All three attacks were claimed by far-left groups, two of which have since been dismantled by the police, but the People’s Fighter Group remains active and its members at large.

Friday morning’s incident came two days after convicted terrorist turned Palestinian Authority (PA) official Ziad Abu Ein died of a heart attack while clashing with IDF soldiers in Samaria. There have been many Greek protests against Israel in recent months.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) unequivocally condemned Friday’s attack.  “Whoever perpetrated this cowardly terror attack should know that it will neither intimidate Israel nor affect the strong Greek-Israeli relationship,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

“Just weeks ago, we visited Athens and heard about the strength of that strategic partnership from both Israeli ambassador Irit Ben-Abba and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos. Having discussed security issues with Public Order Minister Vassilis Kikilias during the visit, we know that the security forces will address this incident with the utmost seriousness, and have every confidence in their ability to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

“We also believe the people of Greece will reject this terrorist attack,” Mr. Foxman added. “While there is a common perception that the Greek public is anti-Israel, our polling revealed that 41 percent of respondents have favorable views of Israel, compared to 32 percent with unfavorable views.”

The ADL also noted that anti-Semitic attitudes may be to blame, adding in a press release that its recent polling on anti-Semitic attitudes in 100 countries found that 69 percent of respondents in Greece agreed with a majority of anti-Semitic stereotypes tested, resulting in the highest score outside of the Middle East and North Africa. (INN)

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