Greek police uncover hideout, nab suspected terrorists

ATHENS - Greek counterterrorism police Saturday raided a hideout in Athens belonging to a terrorist group, confiscating a cache of guns and explosives and arresting at least five people, media reports said.

Greek radio and television said three machine guns, seven handguns, grenades and 50 kilograms of explosive powder and 200 grams of TNT were discovered in a basement apartment in the Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni.

At least five people were detained by police.

Police were conducting more searches in other locations around Athens and in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

Officials said the weaponry found was similar to that used by left-wing guerrilla group Sect of Revolutionaries, which claimed responsibility for the slaying of Sokratis Giolas, an investigative journalist and an anti-terrorist police officer.

Giolas was shot dead in front of his pregnant wife on July 19 outside their Athens home.

The group has vowed to increase attacks on police, business people, prison guards and corrupt media, in addition to tourists.

The Sect of Revolutionaries first emerged after the rioting over the death of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos, killed by a police bullet in December 2008.

Last month, another Greek left-wing anarchist group, Conspiracy of Nucleo of Fire, claimed responsibility for a series of parcel bombings in Greece. The majority of the 14 packages were intercepted by police and destroyed.