U.S. State Department designates the Greek Sect of Revolutionaries as a terrorist organization

U.S. State Department designates the Greek Sect of Revolutionaries as a terrorist organization

2011-02-25 00:33:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday announced the designation of the Sect of Revolutionaries (SE), a Greek terrorist organization, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

The SE is an organization that uses violence to try to provoke a revolution and overthrow the Greek government. Secretary Clinton designated SE as part of the U.S. effort to degrade the capabilities of this group and due to the organization’s indiscriminate terrorist activities which threaten the national security of the United States.

With the designation, the U.S. intends to stem the flow of finances to SE by blocking all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which SE has an interest and prohibiting all transactions by U.S. persons with the organization.

"Today’s designation of the Sect of Revolutionaries highlights the U.S. Government’s concern regarding terrorist activities carried out by organizations in Europe," said Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, the Department of State’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism.

In February 2009, the Sect of Revolutionaries perpetrated an attack at a Greek police station, the first of the group's history. Since them, SE has continued to threaten the Greek government and media interests.

Between February 2009 and July 2010, SE claimed responsibility for two shooting attacks on a police and TV station, and two separate murders of a police officer and a journalist.

Soon afterwards, SE released a proclamation taking responsibility for its violence and threatening to kill police officers, journalists, members of the judiciary, social workers, and others in order to harm the Greek economy and damage the country’s international reputation.

"Taking the step of designating the Sect of Revolutionaries demonstrates the U.S. government’s support for Greece’s efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat this group," added Benjamin.

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