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Greek terrorists threaten war on tourism
An urban guerrilla group has threatened to turn Greece into a war zone this summer, adding further concern for holidaymakers who already faced food and fuel shortages last week due to a strike by truck and tanker drivers.
Some tourists where also caught up in flight delays and cancellations after air traffic controllers began ‘working to rule’.
The guerrilla group, the Sect of Revolutionaries, which has claimed responsibility for the murder of a Greek journalist last month, issued a leaflet threatening to bring mayhem during the holiday season.
"Tourists should know that Greece is no longer a safe haven of capitalism," it said.
"We aim to transform it into a war zone of revolutionary processes, with arson, sabotage, fierce demonstrations, bomb attacks, armed killings."
The Sect of Revolutionaries has not said it will target tourists directly and the British Foreign Office has not altered its travel advice to tourists since terrorist threat was made public, though it does warn tourists to expect disruptions throughout the summer due to further industrial strikes.
Speaking from Greece today, the UK director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation Sofia Panayiotaki said the country was ‘one of the safest in the world’.
Breaking off from her holiday to talk to TravelMole, she said she did not believe tourists should be concerned by the latest threats of industrial action or terrorist activity.
"The government acted very quickly last week to bring in the army and private companies to make sure fuel got distributed and there are no shortages of anything now.
"I have driven from Athens to the north of the country today and everything is fine."
She reminded holidaymakers of the government’s recent pledge to compensate any tourists who suffer financial loss due to strikes in Greece. "At the moment we are considering two cases of British tourists who missed their ferries," she said.
"Anyone else who has a problem caused by strikes can contact the tourist office in London when they return and we will consider their claim."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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