Bomb explodes outside European lawmaker's residence in Athens

Oct 30, 2009, 6:52 GMT

   Athens - A bomb exploded Friday outside the private residence of a a Greek member of the European Parliament near the centre of Athens, causing damage but no injuries, reports said.

   The bomb was set outside the entrance of the building where Marietta Giannakou, a former education minister under the main opposition New Democracy Party, lives.

   The device, which was found in a bag, smashed windows and damaged the entrance of the apartment.

   An unknown individual called in a warning to a local newspaper and television station 20 minutes before the detonation.

   Other smaller explosions were reported against the Spanish consulate in the northern port city of Thessaloniki and a car dealership in Athens. No injuries were reported.

   The explosions took place 24 hours after four hooded gunmen opened fire with automatic rifles on the Agios Pareskevis police station in northern Athens late Tuesday, injuring six police officers, two of whom were in serious condition.

   Hundreds of riot officers and anti-terrorist police were stationed throughout Athens and other parts of the country, stopping and searching vehicles as officials launched a nationwide manhunt Wednesday.

   The attack occurred after Greece's new Socialist government vowed to crack down on the criminal activities of self-styled anarchists and far-left militant groups.

   Police offered a reward of 600,000 euros (893,000 dollars) for information that could lead to the arrest of criminals believed to have links to domestic terrorism.

   Greece has been plagued by frequent bombings and arson attacks targeting banks and multinational businesses since police shot a teenager in December. The shooting sparked the worst riots the country has seen in decades.

   No group claimed responsibility for Tuesday's shooting, but the attack against the police station is similar to others carried out by Revolutionary Struggle, Greece's most-wanted terrorist group.

   The left-wing group first emerged in 2003 after police broke up the November 17 group, best known for firing a rocket-propelled grenade into the US embassy in 2007 in Athens.

   Revolutionary Struggle later claimed responsibility for the shooting of a police officer and a car bomb outside the Athens Stock Exchange. It has vowed to carry out future attacks against financial institutions, politicians and police.