Golden Dawn Leader, Officials Arrested in Crackdown

ATHENS, Greece (AP) ? Four top officials of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party were among a flurry of arrests of party members on Sept. 28, in an escalation of a government crackdown after a fatal stabbing allegedly committed by a supporter. It is the first time since 1974 that sitting Members of Parliament have been arrested. Police announced the arrests of party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris and two other lawmakers on charge of forming a criminal organization. Authorities also said they arrested a local Golden Dawn leader in an Athens suburb, as well as nine other unnamed party members. Two police officials said an operation by the counter-terrorism unit was still ongoing, with a total of about 35 arrest warrants for Golden Dawn members issued

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