Communist Combatant Cells
Encyclopedia
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 bomb
ings 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
firm
s, 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 death
s. In December 1985, police
arrest
ed 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.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organization committed to a Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
.
The cells were active for less than two years in the mid-1980s; primarily engaged in bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
ings within Belgium's borders. While the group was based in Belgium, their targets and goals were predominantly international. CCC attacked perceived enemies of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, specifically the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and international business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
firm
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s, and the Federation of Belgian Enterprises
Federation of Belgian Enterprises
The Federation of Enterprises in Belgium is the only Belgian non-profit organization representing companies in all three regions of Belgium. Its members, the different Belgian sectorial employers' organizations, represent companies in key industrial and service sectors. All in all, it represents...
. The Cellules Communistes Combattantes primarily targeted property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
rather than human representatives of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, NATO, etc., and warned authorities ahead of an attack. Nevertheless, CCC bombings led to several injuries
Injury
-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
and two death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
s. In December 1985, police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed CCC leader and founder Pierre Carette
Pierre Carette
Pierre Carette was the leader of the Belgian extreme-left terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks, he was released in 2003...
, and others, in an American-styled burger restaurant. His murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
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
Pierre Carette
Pierre Carette was the leader of the Belgian extreme-left terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks, he was released in 2003...
and Bertrand Sassoye were arrested again on parole violations and connections to the Italian terrorist group Partito Comunista Politico-Militare
Partito Comunista Politico-Militare
The Partito Comunista Politico-Militare is an Italian terrorist group which came to light in 2007, and is linked to the Red Brigades....
, but the court ordered their release a few days later, on 17 June.
Convicted members
- Pierre CarettePierre CarettePierre Carette was the leader of the Belgian extreme-left terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks, he was released in 2003...
- Bertrand Sassoye
- Pascale Vandegeerde
- Didier Chevolet
Attacks
- 2 October 1984 - attack against the AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company Litton IndustriesLitton IndustriesNamed after inventor Charles Litton, Sr., Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001.-History:...
in EvereEvereEvere is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. On January 1, 2006 the municipality had a total population of 33,462...
, on the 2nd anniversary of the Litton Industries bombingLitton Industries bombingIn October, 1982, three members of the Direct Action "urban guerrilla" group acted upon "their wish to end the arms race" and filled a stolen pick-up truck with 550 kg of dynamite and drove from Vancouver to Toronto, planting the bomb outside Litton Industries, a manufacturer of American...
in Canada - 3 October 1984 - attack on the GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
company MAN AG in Groot-BijgaardenGroot-BijgaardenGroot-Bijgaarden is a village and deelgemeente of Dilbeek.-Toponomy:The name Bijgaarden is derived from the Germanic word for enclosure. The appellation "Great" was attached to distinguish it from the smaller Klein-Bijgaarden nearby, now in the municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw.-History:The... - 8 October 1984 - attack on the AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company HoneywellHoneywellHoneywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
in EvereEvereEvere is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. On January 1, 2006 the municipality had a total population of 33,462... - 15 October 1984 - attack on the Paul Hymans institute (a liberalLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
organization in Elsene) - 17 October 1984 - attack on the CVPCVPCVP may mean:* Central Valley Project, a California water project* Central venous pressure, the pressure of blood in the thoracic vena cava, near the right atrium of the heart* Creative Video Productions Limited, whose 'CVP' logo is a UK registered trademark...
party bureau in GhentGhentGhent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of... - 26 October 1985 - attack on the Belgian Army basis in Bierset
- 11 December 1984 - attack on NATO pipelines in Estival, Gages, Gastuche, Glaaien and ItterItterItter is a municipality in the Kitzbühel and is located 18.60 km west of Kitzbühel, 5 km southeast of Wörgl and 2.50 km north of Hopfgarten im Brixental. The village lies on a terrace above the Brixental valley and its main source of income is tourism...
- 15 January 1985 - attack on a NATO/SHAPESupreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
support group in Woluwe-Saint-LambertWoluwe-Saint-LambertWoluwe-Saint-Lambert or Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium... - 1 May 1985 - attack on the Federation of Belgian EnterprisesFederation of Belgian EnterprisesThe Federation of Enterprises in Belgium is the only Belgian non-profit organization representing companies in all three regions of Belgium. Its members, the different Belgian sectorial employers' organizations, represent companies in key industrial and service sectors. All in all, it represents...
, killing two firemen and wounding thirteen others - 6 May 1985 - attack on the Belgian police in Woluwe-Saint-LambertWoluwe-Saint-LambertWoluwe-Saint-Lambert or Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium...
- 8 October 1985 - attack on the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
company SibelgazElectrabelElectrabel is a Belgium-based energy corporation. It is a subsidiary of GDF Suez.-History:Electrabel was established in 1905. Its actual name originates from 1990, after the regrouping of the companies Intercom, Ebes and Unerg....
in Laeken - 12 October 1985 - attack on the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
company Fabrimetal in CharleroiCharleroiCharleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as... - 4 November 1985 - attack on the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
company BBLING GroupThe ING Group is a global financial institution offering retail banking, direct banking, commercial banking, investment banking, asset management, and insurance services. ING is the Dutch member of the Inter-Alpha Group of Banks, a cooperative consortium of 11 prominent European banks...
in EtterbeekEtterbeekEtterbeek is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It neighbours the municipalities of the City of Brussels, Ixelles, Auderghem, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Schaerbeek.... - 4 November 1985 - attack on the AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company Manufacturers Hanover CorporationManufacturers Hanover CorporationManufacturers Hanover Corporation was the bank holding company formed as parent of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, a large New York bank formed by a merger in 1961. After 1969, Manufacturers Hanover Trust became a subsidiary of Manufacturers Hanover Corporation. Charles J... - 4 November 1985 - attack on the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
company Generale BankFortis (finance)Fortis N.V./S.A. was a company active in insurance, banking and investment management. In 2007 it was the 20th largest business in the world by revenue but after encountering severe problems in the financial crisis of 2008, most of the company was sold in parts, with only insurance activities...
in CharleroiCharleroiCharleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as... - 5 November 1985 - attack on the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
company KB BankKBC BankKBC Bank N.V. is a Belgian universal multi-channel bank, focusing on private clients and small and medium-sized enterprises. Besides retail banking, insurance and asset management activities , KBC is active in European debt capital markets, domestic cash equity markets and in the field of corporate...
in LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium... - 5 November 1985 - attack on the AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company MotorolaMotorolaMotorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
in Watermael-BoitsfortWatermael-BoitsfortWatermael-Boitsfort or Watermaal-Bosvoorde is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region in Belgium.... - 4 December 1985 - attack on the AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company Bank of AmericaBank of AmericaBank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
in Antwerp - 6 December 1985 - attack on a NATO pipeline in Wortegem-PetegemWortegem-PetegemWortegem-Petegem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Elsegem, Moregem, Ooike, Petegem, and Wortegem. On January 1, 2006 Wortegem-Petegem had a total population of 5,977. The total area is 41.96 km² which gives a population...