A member of one of Greece's most lethal terrorist groups was at large Tuesday after being given leave to return home over the holidays, dpa reported.
Christodoulos Xyros, from the urban guerrilla organisation November 17, was declared missing by his lawyer after he failed to turn up for his daily check-in at his local police station near the northern town of Halkidiki on Monday. He had requested a nine-day leave from the country's top security prison Korydallos beginning on January 1.
Police launched a manhunt for the 52-year-old musical instrument maker who is serving six consecutive life sentences for his role in six assassinations as well as other terrorist activities.
November 17 was formed in 1975 and was believed to have been disbanded in 2002 amid mounting pressure to track down terrorists before the 2004 Olympics. More than 15 members of its group were convicted of various crimes including homicide and given multiple life sentences.
The organisation was responsible for the assassination of 23 people in 103 attacks on US, British, Turkish and Greek targets.