Greek fire - The revival of Greece's radical left

Greece has experienced a remarkable escalation in left-wing violence since December 2008, when a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot by police during rioting in Athens. Bombings, shootings and arson attacks have become increasingly regular occurrences as a new, more extreme, generation of radicals make their presence felt in Greece's cities.

These riots coincided with a re-emergence of radical left-wing groups, similar to those that flourished from the 1970s until the early 2000s. These include the Revolutionary Struggle (Epanastikos Agonas: EA) and the Sect of Revolutionaries, which both espouse the use of violence against the state.

Unconfirmed police estimates cited in Greek media reports say a total of some 100 to 200 combat operatives are currently active throughout the country, with an additional 1,000 to 2,000 sympathisers who sustain cell logistics and provide safe houses and other cover.

There is no accurate open source information about their manpower and recruitment methods, not to mention their origins, organisation, vision, political affiliations, operational preferences and logistics structure. However, there is a large body of circumstantial evidence to suggest that they continue to attract both university-educated and working-class people, but in contrast to their forerunners, also seem to be recruiting younger members from the middle classes and wealthier families.

The re-emergence of such radical groups is part of a wider trend of dissatisfaction with the Greek state, stemming partly from the historical existence of radical groups and receiving a boost from Greece's current economic downturn and related social disarray. While the Greek authorities have made efforts to bolster their counter-terrorism capabilities, the government appears unable to address the wider social issues that are allowing radical groups to increase their support, ensuring that bombings and arson attacks will continue to take place.