Crossword Genius

Amazement of criminal upset splinter group (12)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stupefaction

'amazement' is the definition.
(stupefaction is a kind of amazement)

'criminal upset splinter group' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'splinter group' becomes 'faction' (as in a faction of an organisation).
'upset' is an anagram of 'stupe'.
'stupe'+'faction'='STUPEFACTION'

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for stupefaction that I've seen before include "Total astonishment and shock" , "Extreme astonishment" , "great astonishment" , "Shocked astonishment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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