Greece identifies captured DHKP-C militants

Greek police Thursday released photos and names of nine suspected members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) terrorist group captured on Tuesday. Suspects from the group responsible for bombings and assassinations in Turkey, were allegedly planning an attack during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Athens next week. Greek authorities did not confirm the plot and said the suspects were "not cooperating" with authorities.

The suspects whose photos were published in Greek media, were identified as Hasan Biber, Burak Ağarmış, Mehmet Doğan, Ali Gökoğlu, Halaz Secer, Sadi Naci Özpolat, Anıl Sayar and İsmail Zat. One suspect was identified either as Ergül Acer or Halil Demir. Forged passports and IDs were found in the suspects' possession during the raid. Police has also found bomb-making materials and guns.

Greece remains one of the countries in which the DHKP-C is very active, and the terrorist group operates a camp, disguised as a refugee camp, located in the town of Lavrion, 60 kilometers southeast of Athens.

The country changed its much criticized policy of tolerance for DHKP-C supporters and a number of militants were arrested in 2014 in several operations, including high-ranking members of the group. The move was seen as improving counterterrorism cooperation between Turkey and Greece, although the refusal of Greek courts to extradite several suspects overshadowed the efforts.

The DHKP-C, in addition to attacks on Turkish security forces, is responsible for a suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. The incident killed a Turkish security guard and injured a journalist in February 2013.