Convicted Greek terror boss denies he led November 17 group

The man convicted as the head of Greece’s November 17 terrorist group today insisted that he never led the deadly organisation.

Alexandros Giotopoulos, 61, is serving 21 life sentences for his role in the far-left group, blamed for 23 murders and numerous bomb attacks between 1975 and 2000.

He was convicted in December 2003, along with 14 other suspects. Their appeal is scheduled to start on December 2.

“During the trial no incriminating evidence was presented against me,” Giotopoulos told the Athens daily newspaper Ta Nea.

“I was convicted on the basis obscene lies by foreign intelligence services and police’s anti-terrorism department.

“They chose me because I matched the profile,” said Giotopoulos, the Paris-born son of prominent Greek left-wing ideologists. He did not deny being a member of November 17.