Group called ‘Popular Avengers’ claims bullet threats

A previously unknown group calling itself Popular Avengers on Friday claimed responsibility for sending two separate envelopes containing bullets to Bank of Greece Governor Giorgos Provopoulos and Mega television channel presenter Yiannis Pretenderis.

In both cases, the letters were stopped by metal detectors before reaching the offices of the recipients. Each envelope contained two 7.62 millimeter bullets and a short threatening note, sources said.

The envelopes were collected by members of the police’s anti-terrorism unit which forwarded the bullets for inspection by forensics experts.

According to sources, both notes are signed by the group Popular Avengers and condemn Provopoulos’ relationship with bankers and the stance of Pretenderis which they describe as “pro-memorandum,” meaning supporting the government’s economic reform drive.

In February last year, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras received a single bullet in an envelope containing a threatening note. A group called Cretan Revolution later claimed responsibility for sending the envelope in a protest against tax increases.