Greece: 2 arrested for attacks on extreme-right party

ATHENS, Greece – Authorities in Greece say two people have been arrested on terrorism-related charges for allegedly participating in a pair of arson attacks at offices of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party.

The Greek suspects, ages 35 and 36, were arrested Monday on charges that also included the intention to cause physical harm. They remained in detention Tuesday, police said.

Founded on neo-Nazi ideology during the 1980s, Golden Dawn saw a surge in support in the past decade and was represented in Greece’s parliament for seven years before losing its seats in the country’s July election.

The attacks in May and November occurred at party offices in central Athens and in a small town north of the capital, causing damage but no injuries.

A group calling itself the Durruti Brigades, named after the late Spanish anarchist leader Buenaventura Durruti, claimed responsibility for the first attack.

Greek authorities for decades have battled far-left and anarchist militant groups that frequently target courts, government offices, and commercial properties.