Security raised over letter bomb fears

POLICE have warned about the danger of letter bombs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week when the Taoiseach will address MEPs about the Irish presidency.

Security has been increased in the EU institutions after three booby-trapped letters were received by MEPs this week and three more were posted to officials, including one to Commission President Romano Prodi.

Belgian and Italian police are carrying out separate investigations and a European group of security experts was put together under Italian guidance last Monday.

A Belgian-based terrorism think tank claims the attacks are similar to those of the 1970s and 80s that claimed 30 lives in Italy and Germany and warn this could be the start of a similar campaign.

The Parliament in Brussels is on a heightened state of alert since the letters were received. They were all post-marked Bologna in Italy (Mr Prodi’s hometown), and the authorities believe they came from an anarchist group in the city.

The latest warning was issued by the German security services that said more letter bombs were already in the postal system or were recently given to the postal service. Strasbourg is close to the German border.

They warned that extra care will have to be taken next week when the Parliament meets from Monday in Strasbourg for it’s monthly plenary session.

Following the Christmas break, a backlog of letters is expected. Letters coming to MEPs in Brussels are scanned, but the system is not foolproof.

On Wednesday the Taoiseach will address the parliament on the Irish presidency programme and will take questions from the members.

There is usually extra security for visiting heads of state and this is expected to be beefed up for Mr Ahern.

Italian authorities say the anarchist group, Federazione Anarchica Informale (FAI) is behind the bombing. Believed to have about 350 members, they see the EU as exploiting ordinary people and are against a European Constitution.

The European Strategic Intelligence and Security Centre in a report released yesterday said those behind the letter bombs should not be underestimated.