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Other Names
Description Formed in 1975 as the armed wing of the illegal Communist Party of Spain of the
Franco era. Advocating the overthrow of the Spanish Government and replacement
with a Marxist-Leninist regime, GRAPO is vehemently anti-US, calls for the
removal of all US military forces from Spanish territory, and has conducted and
attempted several attacks against US targets since 1977.
Activities GRAPO has killed more than 80 persons and injured more than 200. The group's
operations customarily have been designed to cause material damage and gain
publicity rather than inflict casualties, but the terrorists have conducted
lethal bombings and close-range assassinations. In November 2000, GRAPO
operatives shot to death a Spanish policeman in reprisal for the arrest that
month in France of several group leaders, while in May, GRAPO operatives
murdered two guards during a botched robbery against an armored security van.
Strength Unknown but likely fewer than a dozen hard-core activists. Numerous GRAPO members also currently are in Spanish prisons.
