ATHENS Ñ Greece is has captured a man believed to be the highest-ranking
member of the November 17 insurgency group.
Authorities said Dimitris Koufodinas surrendered on Thursday and was
taken for interrogation in Athens. They said Koufodinas, 44, is believed to
be the leading assassin of November 17 and the link to the political
leadership.
Koufodinas was also said to have recruited many of those who
participated in attacks on Western officials and installations, Middle East Newsline reported.
"He surrendered to police, apparently to protect those who had been
sheltering him," Greek government spokesman Christos Protopappas said. "His
fingerprint was taken and he was identified as Koufodinas. There was no
negotiation with the government nor contact with him."
Officials said Greece has linked Koufodinas to 17 deaths, including a
series of killings of British and U.S. officials. They include the
assassination of U.S. defense attache Capt. William Nordeen in 1988 and Air
Force Sgt. Ronald Stewart in 1991.
In addition, Koufodinas has been charged with participating in the
assassination of British defense attache Brig. Gen. Stephen Saunders in
2000. Saunders was said to have been the last victim of November 17.
Officials said Koufodinas was the object of an intense manhunt since
July. They said an unspecified number of other November 17 members are still
being sought.
