Nationwide manhunt for Greek terrorist on the loose intensifies

Nationwide manhunt for Greek terrorist on the loose intensifies

A nationwide manhunt for an escaped member of one of Greece's most lethal terrorist groups escalated Friday.

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A nationwide manhunt for an escaped member of one of Greece's most lethal terrorist groups escalated Friday with police focusing their search in Athens.
 
Police were stopping motorists and checking  the IDs of passersby in central Athens following renewed calls from  Washington to find the convicted terrorist Christodoulos Xeros. Xeros, 52, who was a member of the terrorist group named November 17, vanished Monday while on New Year's leave from the top security  prison Korydallos. He is serving six life sentences.
 
"We are engaged with Greek officials concerning this case. We call on the Greek government to locate Xeros and return him to prison," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday, adding that the incident "deeply concerned" the US.
 
November 17 is on Washington's list of terrorist organisations. Greek counter-terrorism officers questioned the girlfriend of Xeros' brother, Savvas, as well as a teacher who is alleged to have become involved with Xeros during his previous prison furloughs.According to various radio and television reports, police searched the central Athens homes of both women. Police believe that Xeros traveled to Athens from northern Greece in a car driven by his nephew. Reports said that the pair were seen in footage from a security camera at one of the toll gates on the Athens-Thessaliniki highway.
 
November 17 was formed in 1975 and was believed to have been disbanded in 2002 amid mounting pressure to track down terrorists before the 2004 Olympics. More than 15 members of its group were convicted, along with two of Xeros' brothers, of various crimes including homicide and given multiple life sentences. The organisation was responsible  for the assassination of 23 people in 103 attacks on US, British, Turkish and Greek targets.
 
 
-Sapa

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