British woman killed in Athens car explosion

Greek authorities found a British woman dead in a car in Athens following an explosion believed to have been caused by a bomb inside the vehicle early today, police said.

Police are examining the woman’s possible relationship with Greeks accused in the past of alleged links to organised crime, but were also looking into other possibilities, including an accident or suicide, authorities said.

The 49-year-old woman, whose name was not immediately released, was found in a car with British registration plates in the southern Athens suburb of Voula.

She had been wearing black gloves and her ears had been blocked by cotton wool, said head of the Athens security police Giorgos Angelakos.

An explosive device had been placed underneath the handbrake and a remote control was also found in a bag in the car, he said.

The explosion occurred at around 3am (1am Irish time), and a dog was also found dead inside the car, authorities said.

The British Embassy in Athens was not immediately available for comment.