Greece stops parcels being sent abroad after bombings

12 April 2012

Greece stopped overseas post and screened thousands of parcels today after a spate of bombs targeting embassies, European leaders and institutions abroad.

The government held back post for 48 hours after mail bombs reached the office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and halted flights for hours at an Italian airport where a package addressed to Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi caught fire.

Police are questioning two suspects arrested on Monday in connection with the attempted bombings and released the photographs of five other suspects. Most are in their early twenties.

The suspects have been linked to an anarchist militant group called Conspiracy Nuclei of Fire.

At least 11 mail bombs were discovered in Athens on Monday and yesterday. One was addressed to French president Nicolas Sarkozy and eight to the Athens embassies of Bulgaria, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Chile, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Three of the bombs exploded or caught fire in Athens, causing minor damage and leaving one postal service employee burned. Police said none of the devices contained lethal amounts of explosives.

Prime Minister George Papandreou said the government would be "unyielding" in its pursuit of bombers.

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