New wave of bomb attacks targets Athens embassies

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New wave of bomb attacks targets Athens embassies

ATHENS | Tue Nov 2, 2010 8:55am EDT

ATHENS (Reuters) - A bomb exploded at the Swiss embassy in Athens on Tuesday and police found suspect packages at two other embassies, in the latest wave of parcel bomb attacks in the Greek capital. Police suspect the attacks are linked to Greek leftist guerrillas. Small bomb and gas canister attacks have been frequent in Greece since 2008 when the police killing of a teenager sparked the country's worst riots in decades.

On Tuesday a parcel bomb was found outside parliament and was addressed to the Chilean embassy. Parcel bombs were also found at the Chilean and Bulgarian embassies and one was intercepted at the offices of a courier company addressed to the German embassy. Another suspect package addressed to the Chilean embassy was found to contain no explosives. "The prime suspects would have to be the anarchists or far left as usual.

If this is it, the story will fade but if there's another flurry tomorrow it's a different matter," said Control Risks Western Europe analyst, David Lea. n Monday a parcel bomb exploded at a courier office in Athens, slightly wounding an employee. Greek police then arrested two suspects carrying two more bombs, addressed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Belgian embassy. Police on Monday also intercepted a third bomb found at another delivery company and destined for the Dutch embassy.

(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Writing by Harry Papachristou; Editing by Louise Ireland)

 

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Investigators leave the Swiss Embassy in Athens after a bomb alert November 2, 2010.

Investigators arrive at the Swiss Embassy in Athens after a bomb alert November 2, 2010.


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Investigators leave the Swiss Embassy in Athens after a bomb alert November 2, 2010.

An unidentified personnel looks from the balcony of the Swiss Embassy in Athens after a bomb alert November 2, 2010.


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[Red 5]

Athens embassies targeted by mail bombs


Athens embassies targeted by mail bombs

Mail bombs have exploded outside the Russian and Swiss embassies in Athens, while further devices were discovered addressed to three other embassies and at Angela Merkel's office in Berlin.

Published: 3:18PM GMT 02 Nov 2010

Anti-terrorism police escort a mail bomb suspect, not named by police, to a public prosecutor's office in Athens Photo: AP

Authorities closed down sections of the Greek capital and checked dozens of potential targets, while all embassies were given additional police security. Anti-globalisation far-left extremists are suspected of launching the attacks, which caused no injuries. However, no group has yet claimed responsibility. No warning was given. Security sources played down the chances of a link with the recently discovered Yemen-based mail bomb plot, which used much more powerful devices.

The attacks began Monday when a mail bomb addressed to the Mexican embassy exploded at a delivery service in central Athens, lightly wounding one worker. Authorities searched surrounding streets and arrested two suspects shortly after the blast. They were carrying mail bombs addressed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Belgian Embassy, along with handguns and bullets in waist pouches. One wore body armor, a wig and a baseball cap.

Police detonated the bombs along with a fourth device found at a delivery company and addressed to the Dutch Embassy. One of the suspects was wanted in connection with an investigation into a radical anarchist group known as Conspiracy Nuclei of Fire, which has claimed responsibility for a spate of small bomb and arson attacks over the past two years. The explosions continued with the detonation of a bomb in the courtyard outside a six-story building that is home to the Swiss Embassy.

Swiss Foreign Ministry official Georg Farago said Athens embassy employees regarded the package as suspicious after noticing "traces of metal" on it. "The package burst into flames when the employees removed the external wrapping of the package. At the same moment, there was an explosion. No one was injured," Farago said. Soon after, a courier heading for another embassy became suspicious about a package and stopped at Parliament, where police explosives experts detonated a bomb.

Police then found explosive devices at the Bulgarian Embassy and a central Athens courier company - where the German embassy had returned a suspicious package - and set them off in controlled explosions. A fifth bomb went off on the grounds of the Russian Embassy. Later German police said they had discovered a suspicious package at German Chancellor Angela Merkel's offices. It is not known whether the incident is linked to the earlier devices.

Mr Sarkozy said his office took threat seriously and that French authorities were working with Greek police. "The threat is very serious. We are extremely vigilant and I am following it very closely," Mr Sarkozy said during a joint press conference in London with David Cameron. Three people have died in hits claimed by anarchist or far-left groups in Greece since early 2009, and police have arrested more than a dozen suspected militants.

They have also been responsible for large scale rioting and looting which peaked in the days following the December 2008 shooting by police of an Athens teenager. "The government condemns in the strongest possible way those who try in vain to terrorize and disturb the public tranquility," government spokesman George Petalotis said. "The police's reaction was excellent, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, and their work will continue in a vigorous manner."