Bomb blasts near EC chief's home

Two small bombs hidden in rubbish bins exploded near the home of European Commission president Romano Prodi in the Italian city of Bologna. Nobody was injured.

Prodi, who lives in Brussels but was in his home town for Christmas, said no one was home when the two devices went off last night. He refused further comment.

Marcello Fulvi, the head of Bologna police, said there had been no claim of responsibility, but that he expected one within the next few days. Anarchist groups were suspected, he said.

The bombs were made of a cooking pot, a gas cylinder and a timer and were placed in Bins a few feet from Prodi’s house in central Bologna.