Greek Mall Bomb 1/20/13

Two Wounded in Bomb Blast at Greek Mall
By ALKMAN GRANITSAS

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324624404578253423434568716.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsFifth

Two security guards were slightly injured Sunday in a bomb blast at an indoor suburban shopping mall north of the Greek capital. The blast caused modest property damage, and was preceded by warning calls almost an hour beforehand. The blast comes after recent attacks against journalists and the country's governing center-right party that has awakened fears of a new terror campaign by radical Greek leftist groups. Other incidents include, unidentified gunmen fired shots at the offices of Greece's ruling conservative party, a series of bomb attacks against five prominent journalists, and the targeting of the brother of Greece's government spokesman. The attacks resemble past strikes by Greece's shadowy left-wing urban guerrilla groups and appear to be linked to recent efforts by Greek authorities to crack down on self-styled anarchists, illegally occupying buildings in the center of Athens. The mall bombing was a rare attack on a commercial target. The timing of the blast and placement of bomb has also raised unease, possibly signaling a new trend or shift away from past such attacks. Previous bombings have generally aimed at minimizing casualties. Many are conducted in the middle of the night, and aren't aimed at the ordinary public or tourists.

I think that it is crazy that these attacks are happening. I also sincerely hope that they are not in fact being switched to targeting civilians. In a country that is experiencing so much national hardship, one would hope its people would band together. Also, the fact that Greece supports a working democracy makes it astonishing that the attacks would be coming from a political party upset about losing. It is a good thing that the calls came in or else many more people may have been injured. I would however like to know where the tips came from and how the callers knew so far in advance. Even though I don't agree with the attacks I can see why they would be targeting to opposite political party, but targeting journalists who are just sharing the stories they're told to get is a cold move. Journalists have the power to make or break parties or candidates in democracies, so getting on there bad side isn't something I would go for. Greece needs to be helped so that they can shut down these potentially terroristic threats once and for all. And also the people in Greece need to realize that they must work together if they want to even save their country and continue to be a people. I wish the best of luck to all those who have been and will be effected by this unnecessary conflict. People truly are crazy.