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Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei (SPF)
Conspiracy of Cells of Fire
Synomosia Pyrinon Tis Fotias
Thessaloniki-Athens Fire Nuclei Conspiracy

On October 13, 2011 the US Department of State designated the Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei (SPF), also known as Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, Synomosia Pyrinon Tis Fotias, and Thessaloniki-Athens Fire Nuclei Conspiracy, under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. SPF is a Greece-based extremist group. It has targeted civilians and government officials, both Greek and foreign, in an attempt to spread its violent anarchist ideology. The group first emerged in January 2008 with a wave of fire-bombings against car dealerships and banks in Athens and Thessaloniki. Four members of the group were arrested in 2009 following the evolution of the group’s tactics to employ more sophisticated bombs.

Members of the Conspiracy of Fire Cells first surfaced on January 21, 2008, with a wave of 11 firebombings against luxury car dealerships and banks in Athens and Thessaloniki. Monthly waves of arson have been followed by proclamations expressing solidarity with arrested anarchists in Greece and elsewhere. In September 2009, following an escalation to the use of crude time bombs, four suspected members of the group were arrested. In November 2010 two more suspects were arrested while attempting to mail parcel bombs to embassies and EU leaders and organizations. SPF attempted to mail parcel bombs to EU government offices in Germany and Italy, as well as foreign embassies in Greece. The Government of Greece has made important strides in countering the threat posed by SPF and other terrorist organizations based in Greece. Earlier this year, for instance, Greek authorities arrested two SPF members for their involvement in the 2010 mail parcel bombings. Today’s designation complements the efforts of Greek authorities dealing with the threat posed by anarchists. SPF is the third anarchist group designated by the Department of State since 2009.

The consequences of this designation include a prohibition against U.S. persons providing material support or resources to, or engaging in other transactions with SPF, and the freezing of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States, or the control of U.S. persons. The Department of State took this action in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.

In June 2013, however, SPF claimed responsibility for a bomb attack against the car of the director of Korydallos prison—where many domestic terrorists are currently held—promising more attacks and declaring a common front with other like-minded groups and the international Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front. In April 2014, SPF claimed responsibility for a parcel bomb targeting a police station. In May 2017, there was a series of letter bombs sent to targets both in Greece and internationally. One letter was sent to the former Prime Minister who opened it while in his vehicle. The device detonated and caused serious injuries. A second letter was sent to the IMF headquarters in France and detonated causing injuries. Greek police arrested a 29-year-old Greek national, who they believe committed the acts and is linked to the domestic terrorist group Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei. The Greek anarchist group on 18 April 2019 claimed responsibility for exploding a grenade outside the Russian Consulate in Athens in March 2019. In a statement on anti-establishment website Indymedia validating the hit, the group calling itself "FAI/IRF Revenge Plot" [ Informal Anarchist Federation / International Revolutionary Front (FAI / FRI)] accused Moscow of torturing arrested anarchists. They dedicated the attack to Mikhail Zhlobitsky, a 17-year-old anarchist killed in a suicide bombing at the regional offices of federal security service FSB in Arkhangelsk in October 2018. The Athens grenade explosion on March 22 caused no injuries. The consulate was closed at the time.

Domestic far-left outfits regularly carry out acts of violence against diplomatic missions in Greece. FAI/IRF is associated with the Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, a Greek anarchist group, several of whose members are serving long prison terms for letter bomb attacks.