Extreme-right Golden Dawn lawmaker sought in Greece surrenders to police

ATHENS, Greece – Christos Pappas, a lawmaker for the extreme-right Golden Dawn party sought by Greek police, has surrendered to authorities.

Pappas, described by prosecutors as the Golden Dawn's No. 2, turned himself in at police headquarters in Athens on Sunday.

Like five other Golden Dawn lawmakers now in custody, Pappas will be formally charged with membership in a criminal organization with intent to commit crimes, in an escalation of a government crackdown after a fatal stabbing blamed on a supporter.

This is the first time since 1974 that sitting members of a Greek Parliament have been arrested. The arrests underline the government's efforts to stifle the fiercely anti-immigrant party, which has been increasingly on the defensive since the killing.