Grupos de Resistencia Antifacista Primero de Octubre (GRAPO) (First of October Antifascist Resistance Groups)
Origins
GRAPO was created for former militants of the Spanish Communist Party in 1975, the same year in which Dictator Franco died and Spain started its transition towards democracy. On 18 July 1976, the group carried out its first operation when several bombs went off in buildings throughout Madrid. Contrary to the majority of other leftist organizations, GRAPO opposed participating in the political process.
Location / Main area of operation
Spain and particularly, Madrid.
Objectives
The main objective of GRAPO is to depose the Spanish government and replace it with a Marxist-Leninist regime.
Number of Members
There is little information in this regard. Some analysts and the U.S. State Department estimate that this group has currently around 20 members. As analysed below, these low numbers are likely the result of a series of the arrests of several members.
Type : National
GRAPO is a national NSAG since most of its armed actions have been carried out in Spain. It must, nevertheless, be noted that most of its leaders have been arrested in France in 2000 and 2002.
Conflict Status : Active
GRAPO exercised considerable pressure over the democratic transition in Spain through its armed actions. These actions reached its maximum level of intensity in 1979 when the group assassinated 31 persons; these operations have continued throughout the consolidation of the democratic system in Spain. Nevertheless, its strength has been considerably reduced as a result of the arrest of several of their members, particularly senior officials, since 2000. According to the U.S. State Department, this group did not perpetrate any attack between the years 2002 and 2004.
Structure of the organization
There is not information available on this matter.
Leadership
Several of the leaders of this armed group have been arrested since 2000. Specifically in November 2000, its main leaders were arrested in Paris, including comrade Arenas. Subsequently, in July 2002, the new leaders of the movement were also apprehended in Paris.
External aid/Third party involvement
There is no evidence of any external aid or involvement.
External effects of the NSAG's armed activities
None.
Funding
There is little information available in this regard. According to the U.S. Department of State, this armed group perpetrated several bank robberies in 2000 and 2003 aimed at funding its illegal activities.
Relationship with the international community
This armed group is included in the list of terrorist organizations issued by the European Union.
Books
• Arostegui, Julio (ed) (1994), Violencia y Politica en España (Madrid: Marcial Pons).
• Santos, Juliá (ed) (2000), Violencia Politica en la España del siglo XX (Madrid: Taurus).
Articles and Chapters
• Avilés F., Juan (2003), “El Terrorismo en la España Democratica,” in José M. Jover Z. (ed), Historia de España Menéndez Pidal 633 (Madrid: Espasa Calpe).
Reports and resolutions of intergovernmental organizations
• EU Council, Common Position of 27 December 2001 on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism, Doc. No. 2001/931/CFSP, Official Journal of the European Communities L 344/93, 28.12.2001.
• EU Council, Common Position 2006/380/CFSP of 29 May 2006, Official Journal of the European Communities L 144/25, 31.5.2006.
Governmental reports
• U.S. Department of State, Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), Fact Sheet
Office of Counterterrorism, Washington, DC, 11 October 2005, available at link
• U.S. State Department, the 2003 Patterns of Global Terrorism Report, Appendix C, at 144-145, available at link
Reports of think tanks and non-governmental organizations
Press Information (in chronological order)
Interviews
Internet resources
• Federation of American Scientists, Intelligence Resource Program, First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) Grupo de Resistencia Anti-Fascista Primero de Octubre, available at link
• IISS Armed Conflict Database, Non State Armed Groups, Grupo de Resistencia Anti-Fascista Primero de Octubre (GRAPO), available at link.
• National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO), available at link
• Overseas Security Advisory Council, Profiled Group Details, Grupo de Resistencia Anti-Fascista Primero de Octubre (GRAPO) First of October Antifascist Resistance Group, availabale at link
• Global Security, 1 October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO), available at link
Statements of the armed group
Agreements involving armed groups