A previously unknown Greek anarchist group, “Armed Response,” claimed responsibility Monday for an attempted bomb attack against a judge earlier this month. The incident occurred at a courthouse in Thessaloniki, and explosive experts defused the parcel bomb before it caused any harm.

The statement released by the group criticized the work of judicial officers, alleging that their actions were aimed at torturing and impoverishing prisoners and individuals facing punishment. The group also accused judges, prosecutors and appeals courts of being a closed group of torturers with the support of successive governments. They further expressed discontent with the perceived corruption and self-reliance of judicial officers, contending that they signed and arranged laws to benefit their corrupt associates and gave orders for personal gain.

There has been a noticeable increase in anarchist activities in the past few months. A notable incident occurred on February 3, when a bomb detonated outside the labor ministry in central Athens. There were no injuries reported.

Anarchism has a long-standing presence in Greece, with the movement claiming credit for toppling Greece’s military dictatorship in the early 1970s and fighting against educational reform in the 1990s. Since the economic crisis in 2008, the movement has experienced a resurgence as disaffected young Greeks seek alternatives to a perceived discredited political and economic system.