More bombs targeting embassies in Greece explode, cause no casualties

[News_Editor]

More bombs targeting embassies in Greece explode, cause no casualties

2010-11-02 20:41:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

ATHENS (BNO NEWS) -- Several more bombs exploded on Tuesday at the Swiss and Russian embassies in the Greek capital of Athens, without causing further casualties, police said. It happened soon after the controlled detonations of two mail bombs addressed to the Chilean and the Bulgarian embassies there.

The first explosion occurred around 12.30 pm local time (1030 GMT) in the courtyard of the Swiss embassy, a day after a parcel bomb exploded at a courier company and injured one worker. According to the private channel "Skai", the small bomb was thrown into the courtyard of the embassy, located in the central neighborhood of Kolonaki.

Shortly after, a controlled explosion took place near the Greek parliament, after the interception of a suspicious package addressed to the Chilean Embassy. An employee of a courier company delivered it to the agents and, after being sniffed by police dogs, officials decided to detonate it.

Reports said another controlled detonation took place after a suspicious package was received at the Bulgarian Embassy, and that a fourth device exploded at the Russian embassy. According to Greek media, two additional embassies also received parcel bombs, although there is no official confirmation about it.

On Monday, three parcel bombs were sent to the embassies of Belgium, the Netherlands and Mexico, while a fourth was addressed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Police says a radical leftist group is suspected of being behind the blast, and not al-Qaeda. Two men were arrested shortly after the attacks on Monday and will appear in court on Tuesday.

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