Hamburg officials were today accused of overreacting when they placed a ring of steel around a German military hospital after being told of a terror threat.

European security forces are tightening protection for leading European Union officials following the discovery of four bombs mailed to EU agencies.

Investigators believe Italian anarchists were behind four mail bombs sent to prominent European organisations.

German police placed a ring of steel around a Hamburg military hospital today after being tipped-off that al-Qaida linked terrorists planned a car bomb attack.