GREECE: A large bomb explodes in a shopping district of a southern Athens suburb, causing extensive damages to several shops, but injuring no one. Police say it is a criminal act that is unrelated to terrorism

Record ID: 359260

  • Title: GREECE: A large bomb explodes in a shopping district of a southern Athens suburb, causing extensive damages to several shops, but injuring no one. Police say it is a criminal act that is unrelated to terrorism
  • Date: 13th October 2011
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (OCTOBER 12, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FACADES OF SHOPS DESTROYED WINDOWS OF SHOPS SMASHED OWNERS PICKING UP DEBRIS OF SIGNS, ALUMINIUM, WALL PARTS OF SHOPS OWNER SWEEPING UP SHATTERED GLASS ON THE GROUND SHOES IN DISPLAY OF SHATTERED SHOP POLICE OFFICER STANDING IN FRONT OF SHOPS, FRONT OF SHOPS GUTTED CABLES, ALUMINIUM, SIDING, HANGING OFF BLOWN UP
  • Embargoed: 28th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece, Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA99PN14ZTZLJHR5WBQQHTFIOBX
  • Story Text: A powerful explosion rocked a southern suburb of the Greek capital on Wednesday (October 12) shattering the facades and structures of several shops in what police said was a criminal act unrelated to terrorism.
    The bomb, which caused no casualties, was placed in front of a clothing store early in the morning in the suburb of Glyfada, near the coast.
    The bomb went off around 04:00 local time, as shops were all closed and with little movement on the streets.
    But the force of the explosion caused some major damage to the commercial street. Around 30 shops had their windows shattered with some walls torn down from the blast, whilst some street lamps were also damaged.
    Store owners began cleaning up the debris.
    Police said the home-made bomb was probably made from eight kilograms of dynamite. They suspect it was a criminal who intended to destroy one shop in the street after it emerged the store owner had taken borrowed money from a loan shark and had struggled to repay it.
    The explosion comes as businesses are struggling with an economic crisis that has seen consumer spending plummet and taxes on businesses rise under the unpopular austerity measures.
    Thousands of businesses have closed since last year, and many business owners have said they have difficulties paying their debts.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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