2013 Neo Irakleio Golden Dawn office shooting

On November 1, 2013, two people were killed and a third injured in a drive-by shooting attack outside the offices of the Golden Dawn political party, in Neo Irakleio, Athens. As of November 2013, the anti-terrorism branch of the Greek police is still investigating the incident.[1][2]

2013 Neo Irakleio Golden Dawn office shooting
LocationNeo Irakleio, Athens, Greece
Date1 November 2013 (CET)
Attack type
Drive-by shooting, assassination
Deaths2
Injured1
PerpetratorsUnknown

The events of the murders

On 1 November 2013, two men approached the party headquarters in Neo Irakleio, a northern suburb of Athens, and fired indiscriminately.[3] Golden Dawn members Giorgos Fountoulis and Manos Kapelonis were struck and killed, and a third man, Alexandros Gerontas, was seriously injured. A witness reported that a man got off a motorcycle, wearing a helmet, and fired.[4][5] Police described the shooting as a "terrorist attack".[2] Two weeks later, a previously unknown socialist militant group, "The Militant People's Revolutionary Forces" claimed responsibility for the attacks in a communication to a local news outlet,[6][7] and said that the attacks were in retaliation for the two months earlier murder of anti-fascist activist and rapper Pavlos Fyssas.[8] Police were unable to verify the authenticity of this claim of responsibility.[8]

Background of the victims

Manolis Kapelonis

Manolis or Manos Kapelonis (Greek: Μανώλης or Μάνος Καπελώνης) was 22 years old, lived in Galatsi and had studied at the Athens Hellenic College. His father had served as president of the Association of Civil Government before 2010, and is now president in Public Construction Medical Institutions. The offices of the Local Organisation Northern Suburbs opened every Monday and Friday afternoon. He was among the most active part of the ideological faction. There deputies and officers often made speeches, and their chief texts and the parliamentary candidate in Boeotia often appeared on the official website of the Golden Dawn.[9] His funeral took place on November 4, 2013, at the Church of Ipapanti in Artemida, with the discreet presence of police, and without media coverage, upon his family's request.[10]

Giorgos Fountoulis

Giorgos or Yiorgos Fountoulis (Greek: Γιώργος Φουντούλης) was 27 years old, lived in Neo Irakleio, and had studied physiotherapy. He had friends in Golden Dawn and took part in its events and activities, distributing leaflets with Kapelonis. He helped out as a security guard at the offices of Golden Dawn of the Local Organisation Northern Suburbs, and also with Golden Dawn's on-call safeguarding service for elderly pensioners who asked for protection when shopping or collecting their pensions. He had been a Golden Dawn member for at least one year, and was one of the keenest members in the Local Organisation Northern suburbs, though was not at a high level of Golden Dawn in security matters.[9] His father worked at the post office.[11] His funeral took place on November 4, 2013, at the Church of St. Georgios in Irakleio. At the funeral, hundreds shouted "He Lives Forever", also singing the Greek national anthem while holding Greek flags.[12]

Reactions to the murders

Political reactions

The government, through its spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, made the following statement for the double murder: "The killers, whoever they may be, will be dealt with ruthlessly by democracy, justice and the united Greek society. Let everyone know".[13]

Political parties condemned the assassination.[14] The murder of the two members hit the headlines and became the first topic on the global networks in Greece and around the world.[15] The party of Golden Dawn issued an announcement after the assassination blaming the government and the media for the murders, further accusing the government of Antonis Samaras for failing to deal effectively with terrorism while the anti-terrorist branch of the Greek police was investigating Golden Dawn for criminal offenses instead.[16]

The Municipal Council of Thessaloniki condemned, by resolution, the murders of the two men in Neo Irakleio.[17]

In December 2013, the government of Greece offered a reward of 1 million Euros, to anyone who would provide information that would lead to the capture of the murderers of Manolis Kapelonis and Giorgos Fountoulis.[18][19][20]

Other reactions

Golden Dawn commemorated thrice in memory of Kapelonis and Fountoulis of the Golden Dawn attended by MP Members and Greek citizens.[21] Commemorations and marches of people holding candles and torches, also took place in countries like Italy, Serbia and Spain; and in cities like Rome, Milan and Madrid. Supporters of football teams Radnički Niš Hellas Verona and Lazio hung banners during the group match with slogans in support of the two victims.[22][23] Golden Dawn also conducted actions including food distribution, donations and marches in the memory of the pair.[24]

Claim of responsibility

On the 16 November Zougla announced that an unknown person contacted the station informing them the area where an envelope which contained a USB stick was placed; and that the digital proclamation was stored on it. Zougla uploaded the proclamation online, in which a newly found organization, The Fighting People's Revolutionary Powers, claimed the responsibility for the attack.[25] The proclamation stated that the murders were seen by the group as retaliation for the murder of Pavlos Fyssas.[25][26] Following the proclamation, Golden Dawn stated that "the miserable and stupid manifesto of the cowardly murderers proves that they belong to the criminal ideological womb of the far left".[27]

The anti-terrorist branch of the Greek police announced that it considered the digital proclamation as authentic and is investigating the case.[28]

See also

References
  1. "Αnti-terrorism organisation in Cyprus". DefenceNet. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  2. "Two Golden Dawn members killed in drive-by shooting outside Athens office". The Guardian. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  3. Smith, Helena (2013-11-03). "Golden Dawn shooting survivor could hold clues to identities of killers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  4. Golden Dawn members killed outside party office, Associated Press, 1 November 2013.
  5. Two members of Greece's Golden Dawn shot dead, BBC News, 1 November 2013.
  6. "Golden Dawn shootings: group claims responsibility". The Guardian. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  7. Smith, Helena (2013-11-17). "Leftist militants claim Golden Dawn killings as rally honours 1973 uprising". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  8. Reuters Staff (2013-11-16). "Greek militant group claims Golden Dawn killings". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  9. "Who were Manos Kapelonis and Giorgos Fountoulis". Tα Νέα. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  10. "The funeral of Manos and Giorgos". To Βήμα. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  11. "Two Golden Dawn members killed in drive-by shooting outside Athens office". The Guardian. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  12. "The funeral of Giorgos Fountoulis". To Βήμα. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  13. "The Government Spokesman for the double murder in Neo Irakleio". Athenspress.gr. 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  14. "The whole of condemnation of assassination". Real.gr. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  15. "On Headlines the murder of Manolis Kapelonis and Giorgos Fountoulis". Real.gr. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  16. "Announcement of the Golden Dawn for the double murder of Manolis Kapelonis and Giorgos Fountoulis". Χρυσή Αυγή. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  17. "resolution by the Municipal Council of Thessaloniki". Aftodioikisi.gr. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  18. "Επικήρυξαν (με 4.000.000 ευρώ) τους τρομοκράτες". Espresso. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  19. "The murderers were outlawed by a million euros from the government". newsit.gr. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  20. "4 Million Prize placed on the Terrorists' Heads (Επικήρυξη 4 εκατομμυρίων για τους τρομοκράτες)". Kathimerini.gr. 2014-01-22. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  21. "Trisagion in memory of the two murdered members". thestival.gr. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  22. "Commemorations of Manolis Kapelonis and Giorgos Fountoylis, worldwide". polispost.gr. 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  23. "Commemorations - Lazio". Sport24.gr. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  24. "Food distribution in the memory of Manolis Kapelonis and Giorgos Fountoulis". Χρυσή Αυγή. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  25. "Η προκήρυξη της εκτέλεσης (The Declaration for the Executions)". 16 November 2013. Zougla. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  26. "Οι "Μαχόμενες Λαϊκές Επαναστατικές Δυνάμεις" ανέλαβαν την ευθύνη για τη δολοφονία των δύο μελών της Χρυσής Αυγής στο Νέο Ηράκλειο (The Fighting People's Revolutionary Powers claimed responsibility for the murders of the two Golden Dawn members at New Iraklio)". news247. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  27. "Η Χρυσή Αυγή για την προκήρυξη (Golden Dawn in Response to the Declaration)". News 247. November 16, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  28. ""Γνήσια η προκήρυξη" για τις δολοφονίες μελών της Χρυσής Αυγής ("Authentic Declaration" for the Murders of the Golden Dawn Members)". Ethnos. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
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