Athens Golden Dawn shooting sparks political violence fears

(Vatican Radio) Two members of Greek far-right party Golden Dawn were killed last night in a drive-by shooting in Athens.

Political violence in Greece has escalated since anti-fascist musician Pavlos Fyssas was stabbed to death in September by an alleged Golden Dawn supporter.


John Carr reports from Athens:


Fears of a resumption of far-left urban guerrilla terrorism were in the air in Athens today, after two members of the far-right Golden Dawn party were gunned down outside a party office last night. A third Golden Dawn member is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.


The police said two masked men on a motorcycle stopped outside the Golden Dawn office in a north-western Athens suburb and shot the victims at close range, pumping at least twelve bullets into them. A nationwide hunt is on for the unknown assailants.


It is widely believed that the double killing was a reprisal for the fatal stabbing of a leftwing rapper nearly two months ago by alleged neo-Nazis. If so, there are fears that it could be the start of a war between the far right and far left. The Greek government and all political parties have urged moderation to prevent such a development.


Golden Dawn itself was claimed last night’s shooting was the result of weeks of victimization of the party by Greece’s media and political establishment after the murder of the leftwing rap artist. Last night’s murder was chillingly professional, harking back to the grim days when the feared far-left 17 November group was active, gunning down businessmen and foreign diplomats. More than one vehicle appears to have been used to stage an elaborate getaway.


Almost certainly Golden Dawn will use the slaying to push its victimhood image after many weeks of negative publicity. Its top deputies remain in jail pending trial on charges of belonging to a criminal organization.