How Safe Is Athens?

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Unlike the terrorists in New York, Istanbul and Madrid, Karmon and others say, the Greek anarchists are seeking to test the establishment, not kill large numbers of people. The most likely suspect in Wednesday's attack is a group called the Revolutionary Struggle, which was behind a similar strike outside a courthouse last year. Greek terrorism experts believe the bombs were less a warning of things to come than a political provocation aimed at embarrassing the government.

They succeeded. There were plenty of red faces among the Greek delegation that arrived in Washington later that day to brief FBI and CIA officials on security arrangements for the Olympics. The modest bomb that hit the Atlanta Games in 1996 proves that no nation is impervious to such attacks. But the ease with which so many small-time Greek bombers are able to set off their blasts in Athens makes security experts worry that big-time bombers like al-Qaeda might be able to do the same. Intelligence officials say they have not as yet picked up worrisome chatter, but a growing number of experts involved in Olympic preparations expect some kind of attempted attack during the Games. Before the Madrid bombings on March 11, when "every attempt by an al-Qaeda affiliate in Europe had been foiled," says Israel's Karmon, experts were more optimistic. Now, he says, "there is strong belief that al-Qaeda related groups may try to act during the Games." A Western government security official, speaking to Time on condition of anonymity, agreed: "There is little question something will be hit." U.S. officials are particularly concerned about the apparent inability of Greek authorities to keep track of people moving in and out of the country. Several U.S.-led studies and drills have highlighted problems with Greek security procedures, particularly those concerning large-scale attacks. Last year, U.S. officials said Greeks had failed to plan seriously for mass- casualty chemical or biological attacks, an area that remains of concern for foreign security experts, while the Greek Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis conceded recently that tests had shown significant lapses in coordination of responses. "We have to shorten the delays," he said.

Over the last year, U.S., British and other security experts have relentlessly been drilling armies of security personnel in every conceivable catastrophic scenario, from poison-gas attacks to hijacked civilian airliners. "All we do," commented one local commander, "is think the unthinkable." Since last week's blasts, Greek authorities have beefed up security at potential targets, especially diplomatic missions.

This will hardly reassure skittish Olympic teams. While none has pulled out of the Games, many are ratcheting up their own precautions. Australia received assurances that its athletes would be placed under armed guard, and said it would have planes ready to divert to Athens for quick evacuation if necessary. The American team will likely be guarded by undercover U.S. federal agents, but officials hotly denied the inevitable (and no doubt unfounded) rumors that the team was considering pulling out. "No way," a top U.S. security official told Time. "If the U.S. pulls out, the Games are over." Earlier this month the International Olympic Committee took out an unprecedented $170 million insurance policy in case the games are canceled due to war, terrorism or natural catastrophe. It's no secret that that the Greeks have other potential catastrophes on their minds. After long delays, work was expected to begin last weekend on installing the sliding roof of the main Olympic stadium — the symbol of these Games, designed by the celebrated Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Officials say it won't be ready until the end of May at the earliest. At last count 13 major construction projects remained incomplete and behind schedule. Failure to finish the work in time for the opening ceremonies would be a great embarrassment for the Greeks, and it's too soon to say whether they will make the deadline. No wonder the authorities were so determined not to be distracted by the Kallithea blasts. Security guarantees? Such things, said a Greek police commander, paraphrasing his Stoic ancestors, "must be left to fate."