Greek terrorists suspected after mail bomb blitz

Suspected Greek terrorists unleashed an unprecedented two-day wave of mail bomb attacks in Athens and abroad, with one package reaching the office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Greek militant groups are suspected of mounting the attacks targeting embassies in Athens and international organisations and foreign leaders abroad.

If that is confirmed, it would mark a dramatic escalation for organisations that have never before attempted to strike targets abroad.

The campaign used small devices that only caused one injury and minimal damage.

But it highlights the difficulty of keeping bombs out of the international delivery system – also a target of Yemen-based militants armed with more powerful and potentially deadly explosives.

Security at all embassies in Athens was increased and authorities yesterday suspended all international mail deliveries from Greece for 48 hours for further checks.

By yesterday evening, at least 11 mail bombs had been detected in the Greek capital – one addressed to French president Nicolas Sarkozy and eight to the embassies of Bulgaria, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Chile, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Two more were destroyed in controlled explosions at Athens’ international airport – one addressed to the European Union’s highest court in Luxembourg and the other to law enforcement agency Europol in the Netherlands.

“A little flame was sparked” when a package addressed to Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi was opened by bomb experts at the airport at Bologna, Italy, said police spokeswoman Donatella Dosi.

No one was injured.

The TNT cargo plane made an emergency landing in Bologna after TNT officials back in Greece realised there was a package aboard addressed to Mr Berlusconi and informed the pilot, she said.

The plane had originally been been bound for Paris and Liege, Belgium, the site of a package distribution centre, said Ms Dosi.

The airport was closed to takeoffs and landings for hours while the TNT plane was searched to locate the package.

It was unclear whether the bomb sent to Germany was delivered by land or air.

If sent by plane, it would highlight the potential limitations of air cargo security that remain, despite the concern triggered by the mail bombs dispatched recently from Yemen.

“If they have been flown, then it rather begs the question whether European freight air security is up to muster at all,” said UK-based aviation security consultant Chris Yates.

But transportation industry officials also said there are few if any security checks on packages transported within the European Union by road or rail.

“Once they’re in Europe, the goods are free to move around,” said Robert Windsor, manager of trade services at the British International Freight Association.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the package that arrived yesterday at Ms Merkel’s office was sent from Greece two days earlier by UPS delivery and resembled the Athens packages.

UPS, which transports mail in Europe both by ground and air, said it was aware of reports it delivered the package but could not confirm them.

“We’re working closely with authorities to investigate,” UPS spokesman Norman Black said by e-mail.

Mr Sarkozy said French authorities were working with Greek police.

“The threat is very serious. We are extremely vigilant and I am following it very closely,” Mr Sarkozy said during a visit to London.