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A major police operation in the area of ​​ Kalikratia, Halkidiki, is searching for dangerous terrorist Christodoulos Xiros convicted of involvement in the terrorist organisation "17 November." The criminal is serving a sentence in Korydallos prison in Athens but obtained a 9-day leave for the Christmas holidays on condition that he would appear at the police station in Kalikratia every day. Although Xiros observed this condition at first, he did not appear at the station yesterday. Christodoulos Xiros had obtained leave from prison before too and he had always observed the conditions under which he was allowed to leave.
    He was born on the island of Ikaria in 1958 and he is the eldest of the 11 children of Father Triandafilos. He is part of the second generation of terrorists from "17 November" who were involved in the operational work of the organisation in the 1980s. According to the case file, he took part in the following: the attempted assassination of the USA captain Robert Chad in 1984, the murder of former politician Nikos Momferatos and his driver Panagiotis Rousetis in 1985, the explosion that broke out outside a bus of the riot forces and killed police officer Nikos Georgeakopoulos, the murder of industrialist Dimitris Angelopoulos and in another 5 murders, numerous armed robberies and attacks.
    Christodoulos Xiros is not the first terrorist who has "escaped" from the authorities while on leave from prison. Terrorists Nikos Maziotis and Panagiota Roupa, who were released after the 18-month period within which the accused can be held in prison without trial, did the same in the summer of 2012. Both are key players in the terrorist organisation "Revolutionary Struggle". The Greek anti terrorist services believe that Maziotis was the shooter who fired over 20 bullets at the residence of the German Ambassador in Athens at the end of December 2013.

Xiros’ lawyer Frangiskos Rangousis explained before Skai Radio that his client’s decision not to appear at the police station is political. "He was able to escape and did so, like any revolutionary would do," he added. "These words make me shudder," said government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, according to whom convicted terrorists cannot be treated as ordinary criminals, and expressed hope that the police operation will bring good results soon.