16 hurt in Riviera blasts

At least 16 people were injured today after two explosions rocked central Nice.

The blasts damaged the Treasury and Customs buildings in the French Riviera resort. The cause of the explosions, which happened five minutes apart, was not immediately known.

Local officials said they were not ruling out any leads, including the possibility that Corsican separatists – who have been known to target the Treasury building – were behind the blasts.

Finance minister Francis Mer, whose ministry operates the two buildings, said in a statement that the explosions had resulted from “cowardly attacks,” but did not elaborate.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The force of the explosion, which could be heard three miles away, shattered windows and destroyed several nearby shops and cars.

The first blast took place at about 2.30am. Firefighters arrived at the scene just as the second explosion took place.

Officials said 16 people were slightly injured, including a police officer.

Last September, the FLNC, one of the main Corsican separatist groups, claimed responsibility for a failed attempt to bomb the same Treasury building. Authorities disarmed the explosive before it went off.