Revolutionary Self-Defense Organization (Anarchist Entity, Greece)

• Local Name: Οργάνωση Επαναστατικής Αυτοάμυνας
• Transliteration: Orgánosi Epanastatikís Aftoámynas
• Alternatives: N/a
• Status: 2014 – Active
• Conflicts: Greek Anarchist Militancy

The Revolutionary Self-Defense Organization [OEAA; Orgánosi Epanastatikís Aftoámynas] is a militant group made up of about half a dozen veteran anarchist terrorists based in the Exarchia neighborhood of Athens.¹ Despite its small size, the OEAA is considered to be one of Greece’s most dangerous terrorist outfits because it wants to inflict casualties.²

The OEAA first appeared on May 24, 2014, when gunmen opened fire at an office of the social-democratic PASOK party in Athens.³ In July, the outfit posted a statement on an anarchist website asserting responsibility for the incident.⁴ On Jul. 31, 2016, it reemerged when members fired shots at the building housing the Mexican embassy. The OEAA was also behind a grenade attack against the French embassy on Nov. 10 of that same year. A security guard was hurt in the incident.⁵ A few days later, the group released a message in which it claimed to be responsible for the attacks on the two diplomatic missions.⁶ On Jan. 10, 2017, OEAA militants shot and injured two policemen guarding a PASOK office in the Greek capital city.⁷ The group again claimed to be behind the attack in a lengthy statement.⁸

Some of the OEAA’s attacks came shortly after the high-profile arrests of members of the Revolutionary Struggle [EA; Epanastatikos Agonas] and the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire [SPF; Synomosía ton Pyrínon tis Fotiás].⁹ The three entities are assumed to have emerged from the same circles.