GREECE: Bomb blast outside an Athens courthouse destroys at least two cars and damages another six

Record ID: 359505

  • Title: GREECE: Bomb blast outside an Athens courthouse destroys at least two cars and damages another six
  • Date: 31st December 2010
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 30 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS FIRE ENGINE AND POLICE CAR BLOCKING OFF SITE OF BLAST IN FRONT OF COURTHOUSE VARIOUS FACADE OF BUILDING WITH BROKEN WINDOWS CARS IN FRONT OF BUILDING HEAVILY DAMAGED CARS VARIOUS FIREMEN ON LADDERS CLEARING AWAY SHATTERED GLASS ON FACADE OF BUILDING POLICEMEN AT SITE, DAMAGED BUILDING IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS DAMAGED
  • Embargoed: 15th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece, Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA280GMXG9RC2SRADWJME9IEK5W
  • Story Text: At least eight cars are damaged and several windows of a courthouse and nearby shops are smashed following a large explosion in Athens.
    A blast outside a courthouse destroyed at least two cars and damaged another six in Athens on Thursday (December 30) morning, while the glass-windowed facade
    of the courthouse and buildings across the street were shattered.
    Authorities believe the blast was caused by a makeshift explosive device that was placed on a motorbike parked outside the courthouse.
    Members of the counter terror squad were searching the site for clues.
    The Court of First Instance is located in a populated Athens neighbourhood.
    No one was injured in the blast after police evacuated the area following a warning call 40 minutes earlier to a newspaper and television station.
    There has not yet been a claim of responsibility.
    The blast had occurred some time after 08:00 a.m. local time (06:00 gmt). Police closed off the area around the building. The blast caused the motorbike and two cars to erupt in flames.
    Explosions have been frequent over the last two years in Athens since a teenager was killed by police in 2008. Leftist militant groups - who are against the establishment and target politicians, businesses or police - have claimed responsibility.
    The previous blasts occurred in November when a series of parcel bombs were delivered to embassies in the capital and abroad. One person was slightly injured in those attacks. A group called the Conspiracy of Fire Cells claimed responsibility and two people were arrested.
    At the beginning of December police arrested another six people and uncovered three weapons caches in a crackdown on the militant groups.
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