Successor to November 17 terror group believed exploiting unrest in Greece

"This is a group clearly trying to murder police," Greek police commander Vassilis Tsiatouras said.

Officials said the Revolutionary Struggle, which relayed its claim in a telephone call to a Greek television station, could be one of several anti-Western groups that have sought to exploit the anti-police riots over the last month. They said some of the groups were believed to have changed their names to avoid arrest.

The riots, mostly by young Greeks, have begun to include the use of firearms. In January 2009, police were attacked several times with light arms fire by those who appeared to be demonstrators.

The Revolutionary Struggle, deemed a terrorist group by the European Union, was first reported in 2003. In 2007, the group claimed responsibility for the firing of an anti-tank rocket toward the U.S. embassy. Both Greece and the United States have offered a $2 million reward for information that would lead to the arrest of leaders of the Revolutionary Struggle.

Officials said the Revolutionary Struggle was also believed involved in a submachine gun attack on police. They said the 9 mm weapon was also said to have been fired toward a police station in Athens in 2007.

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