Initial suspicions were wrong
In December 1975, the death of a “non-random” American employee of the US Embassy in Athens triggered the subsequent development of Greek terrorism. More precisely, at 10.30 a.m. on December 23, 1975, CIA Station Chief Richard Welch, on his way home from a Christmas party at the US ambassador’s home, was shot three times by three hooded men in a stolen car. The perpetrators did not attempt to shoot Welch’s wife or his driver, who gave a deposition to the authorities regarding the incident.
A proclamation was found at the scene, signed by N17. The authorities did not evaluate the proclamation as a matter of substance or interest. Although the assassination of the CIA station chief objectively created a sense of unpleasant surprise, it was not considered to be the work of a national “avengers” organization, much less a terrorist organization.
The proclamation was initially treated by the authorities as a hoax, and the assassination as the result of internal conflicts inside the American services.
On December 26, a second proclamation was sent to newspapers, which was not published in pursuance of a court order.
After a few days, a third proclamation was delivered to the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre in Paris by an unknown woman. Sartre handed it to the Libération newspaper.
The newspaper’s editor in chief did not consider it authentic or substantive and did not publish it.
The first appearance of the revolutionary organization N17 did not have the same effect after its following actions over the next 27 years. After police officer Evangelos Mallios, convicted of torturing prisoners at the Athens General Directorate, was assassinated on December 15, 1976, Libération published the proclamation on December 26, which was later published by the Greek newspapers.