Communist Combatant Cells

Cellules Communistes Combattantes (CCC; Communist Combatant Cells, also known as Fighting Communist Cells) was a Belgian terrorist organization committed to a Communist ideology.

Cellules Communistes Combattantes
CCC
LeaderPierre Carette and Bertrand Sassoye
Dates of operation1983 (1983)–January 1986 (1986-01)
Active regionsBelgium
IdeologyMarxism-Leninism
Major actionsAttacks on property and international organisation
StatusInactive
Means of revenueRobbery

The cells were active for less than two years in the mid-1980s; primarily engaged in bombings within Belgium's borders. CCC attacked perceived enemies of communism, specifically NATO, US and other international businesses and the Federation of Belgian Enterprises. The Cellules Communistes Combattantes primarily targeted property rather than human representatives of capitalism, NATO, etc., and warned authorities ahead of an attack. Nevertheless, CCC bombings led to several injuries and two deaths.

The CCC's spate of bombings in 1985, as well as the unrelated Brabant killings at the time, shook this otherwise relatively tranquil country and created widespread security concerns. The government decided to deploy about 1,000 soldiers from the Belgian army as part of PM Wilfried Martens' security plan.[1]

In December 1985, police arrested CCC leader and founder Pierre Carette and others, in an American-styled burger restaurant. Carette's conviction on 14 January 1986 essentially eliminated the CCC.

Pierre Carette was released from prison in February 2003. In 2008, Pierre Carette and Bertrand Sassoye were arrested again on parole violations and connections to the Italian terrorist group Partito Comunista Politico-Militare, but they were released by the court a few days later, on 18 June.[2][3]

Convicted members

  • Pierre Carette
  • Bertrand Sassoye
  • Pascale Vandegeerde
  • Didier Chevolet
  • Didier Sampieri

Attacks

See also

References

  1. Times, Judith Miller and Special To the New York. "BELGIUM IS SHAKEN BY BOMBS AND 'CRAZY KILLERS'".
  2. CCC: 5 interpellations en Belgique (in French), 2008-06-05, archived from the original on 2008-06-09, retrieved 2008-06-08
  3. Metdepenningen, Marc (June 19, 2008). "L'ex-chef des CCC, qui a respecté sa libération conditionnelle, est libre". Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  4. "In mededeling na CCC-aanslagen regering roept bevolking op tot waakzaamheid", De Standaard (in Dutch): 1, 1985-11-06
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