For the US government, Revolutionary Organization 17 November remains an active terrorist organization. Washington hasn’t forgotten that escaped extremist Christodoulos Xiros, who has been convicted for his participation in N17 – a terrorist organization responsible for the murders of American citizens – is still at large.
The State Department, in a bid to support the detection and arrest of the escaped terrorist, decided to offer a one-million-dollar bounty for the arrest of Christodoulos Xiros. The US financial reward is additional to the 4-million-euros bounty offered by the Greek government for information regarding Christodoulos Xiros, Panagiota Roupa and other suspected terrorists who were allegedly involved in two murders and one serious injury on November 1, 2013 in Neo Iraklio, Attica.
By offering a reward to anyone who can offer information leading to the identification and arrest of Christodoulos Xiros, the US government is trying to stoke interest in the case of the escaped terrorist who absconded the high-security Korydallos prison in Athens.
Xiros, who was serving five life sentences for a string of deadly attacks and bombings, was among the 15 convicted members of 17 November, an organization that, long before the appearance of al-Qaida, was at the top of America’s most wanted list.
The case of Christodoulos Xiros was discussed during Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias’ two-day visit in Washington.
Mr. Kikilias met on Tuesday with the US Justice Minister (Attorney General), Eric Holder, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Brennan, the director of the FBI James Comey, and officials of the White House and the State Department.
Security and terrorism issues dominated the meetings between the Public order minister and US officials that focused on the issues of information exchange and strengthening of operations for the monitoring and detection of foreign fighters, an issue especially important to the US.