Athens - Greece's left-wing militant group Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the spate of recent attacks in Athens, including the shooting of a policeman, police said.

The left-wing group sent a statement to the weekly Pontiki newspaper saying it was behind the January 5 shooting, which left a 21-year-old police officer in serious condition in hospital, as well as an attack on a riot police bus.

The group also said it was responsible for the foiled bombing of petrol company Shell's headquarters in Athens.

The attack against police followed Greece's worst rioting in decades in December, which was triggered by the police killing of a teenager.

Within hours of the boy's death, riots broke out across the country which were also fuelled by anger at government scandals and growing poverty.

Two years ago Revolutionary Struggle fired a rocket-propelled grenade against the US embassy in Athens.

The group first emerged within months of a the capture of deadly terrorist group November 17 in 2003. (dpa)