Revolutionary Nuclei
Name(s). Revolutionary Nuclei/Epanastatiki Pirines.
Goals and Objectives. The Revolutionary Nuclei is a leftist terrorist group opposed to the current Greek government, the European Union, NATO and the United States.
Favored Tactics. RN assailants primarily plant small, makeshift bombs and use timing devices to detonate the bombs or engage in arson attacks. RN tends to place warning calls to newspapers and police offices immediately prior to commencing an attack. The group generally strikes at obscure hours of the night.

Brief History. Revolutionary Nuclei (RN) is a small, leftist, urban guerilla group based in Greece. The similarities in modus operandi between RN and another now apparently dormant Greece-based group, the Revolutionary People’s Struggle (ELA), have led analysts to believe that RN may have succeeded ELA. ELA emerged in the 1970s in opposition to the military junta governing Greece. The group espoused anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist ideologies, and often attacked government and foreign establishments. ELA has not claimed an attack since 1995.

RN surfaced in 1996 when it began claiming bomb attacks on foreign banks and state buildings in language that seemed similar to that used by the ELA. For example, on May 11, 1997, RN attacked a Greek Coast Guard Office in Piraeus. In 1998, RN struck a series of Greek government targets, including Athens court buildings and the office of a former Public Order Minister.408 In the same year, RN bombed a Barclay’s Bank branch in Piraeus, without causing any casualties, but severely damaging office equipment. In its most infamous attack, RN bombed the Athens Intercontinental Hotel in March 1999 to protest NATO military action in Yugoslavia; a Greek woman was killed and a man was seriously wounded. In 2000, RN bombed the offices of several Greek companies and attempted to bomb the office of a former minister. The targets have generally been associated with the Greek government or the United States/European Union. RN has not claimed an attack since November 2000, so there is some question as to whether the group may have disbanded or become dormant.

Favored Tactics. RN assailants primarily plant small, makeshift bombs and use timing devices to detonate the bombs or engage in arson attacks. RN tends to place warning calls to newspapers and police offices immediately prior to commencing an attack. The group generally strikes at obscure hours of the night.

Anti-American Activities. In December 1996, RN claimed a bomb attack on a Citibank branch in Athens. No one was injured, but there was damage to the office building. RN similarly detonated a makeshift bomb at the entrance of a building that had recently housed American Express offices. In its most recent attacks against U.S. interests, RN again targeted Citigroup and also bombed the studio of a Greek- American sculptor in November 2000.

Primary Area(s) of Operation. RN operates in Athens, Greece and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Strength and Composition. RN is believed to be a small group, although the exact number of members is unknown. Some estimates put membership at under 100. Members tend to espouse leftist ideologies and are believed to have antiestablishment and anti-U.S./NATO/EU stances.

Connections with Other Groups. As stated above, because the former ELA and RN apparently have shared a common political agenda, targeted similar interests, and executed similar attacks, analysts believe that RN is a successor to the group. Former members of ELA may now be members of RN. This assertion has not been publicly confirmed, however. In addition, RN reportedly jointly launched an attack on Athens court buildings on July 13, 1998 with Liberation Struggle, an unknown group.

RN’s funding sources are unknown, but the State Department has said that the group is likely "self-sustaining."

Originally Designated as an FTO. October 8, 1997.

Re-designated. October 8, 1999, October 5, 2001.

Issues of Concern for Congress. Recently the Greek government has aggressively pursued measures against Greek terrorist organizations, especially 17 November (see below). As the Summer 2004 Olympics in Athens approach, the question of whether RN/ELA will target Western interests and Western citizens may be of concern.