Communist Combatant Cells

The logo of the CCC

Cellules Communistes Combattantes (CCC; Communist Combatant Cells) was a Belgian terrorist organization committed to a Communist ideology.

The cells were active for less than two years in the mid-1980s; primarily engaged in bombings within Belgium's borders. While the group was based in Belgium, their targets and goals were predominantly international. CCC attacked perceived enemies of communism, specifically the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), US and international business firms, 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. In December 1985, police arrested CCC leader and founder Pierre Carette, and others, in an American-styled burger restaurant. His murder conviction on 14 January 1986 essentially eliminated the CCC. The Cellules Communistes Combattantes has not been active since 1985. Pierre Carette became a free man again 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 the court ordered their release a few days later, on 17 June.^[1][2]

Convicted members

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

Attacks

• 2 October 1984 - attack against the American company Litton Industries in Evere, on the 2nd anniversary of the Litton Industries bombing in Canada
• 3 October 1984 - attack on the German company MAN AG in Groot-Bijgaarden
• 8 October 1984 - attack on the American company Honeywell in Evere
• 15 October 1984 - attack on the Paul Hymans institute (a liberal organization in Elsene)
• 17 October 1984 - attack on the CVP party bureau in Ghent
• 26 October 1985 - attack on the Belgian Army basis in Bierset
• 11 December 1984 - attack on NATO pipelines in Estival, Gages, Gastuche, Glaaien and Itter
• 15 January 1985 - attack on a NATO/SHAPE support group in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
• 1 May 1985 - attack on the Federation of Belgian Enterprises, killing two firemen and wounding thirteen others
• 6 May 1985 - attack on the Belgian police in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
• 8 October 1985 - attack on the Belgian company Sibelgaz in Laeken
• 12 October 1985 - attack on the Belgian company Fabrimetal in Charleroi
• 4 November 1985 - attack on the Belgian company BBL in Etterbeek
• 4 November 1985 - attack on the American company Manufacturers Hanover Corporation
• 4 November 1985 - attack on the Belgian company Generale Bank in Charleroi
• 5 November 1985 - attack on the Belgian company KB Bank in Leuven ^[3]
• 5 November 1985 - attack on the American company Motorola in Watermael-Boitsfort
• 4 December 1985 - attack on the American company Bank of America in Antwerp
• 6 December 1985 - attack on a NATO pipeline in Wortegem-Petegem

References

1. ^ CCC: 5 interpellations en Belgique, 2008-06-05, http://www.rtbf.be/info/societe/judiciaire/ccc-5-interpellations-en-belgique, retrieved 2008-06-08  (French)
2. ^ Metdepenningen, Marc (June 19, 2008). "L’ex-chef des CCC, qui a respecté sa libération conditionnelle, est libre" (in French). Le Soir. http://archives.lesoir.be/justice-l-ex-chef-des-ccc-qui-a-respecte-sa_t-20080619-00GKQR.html. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
3. ^ "In mededeling na CCC-aanslagen regering roept bevolking op tot waakzaamheid", De Standaard: 1, 1985-11-06  (Dutch)

See also

• Communist terrorism
• Gang of Nivelles
• Westland New Post