Sarkozy targeted
November 1, 2010
After a package addressed to the Mexican embassy in Athens ignited at a courier service, Greek police arrested two suspects preparing to mail three more bombs: one each to the Belgian and Dutch embassies and a third to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. One employee of the mail delivery service was taken to the hospital with light burns on her hands.
Police said the two men, aged 22 and 24, are believed to be linked to the Greek far-left militant group whose name has been translated as Fire Conspiracy Cells. They were reportedly carrying handguns and wearing bullet-proof vests.
Attacks targeting the government or the police are relatively frequent in Greece and far-left groups have been blamed for a series of attacks since police killed a teenager in Athens in December 2008.
"The incident seems rather ridiculous," police spokesman Thanassis Kokalakis told the AFP wire service. "In Sarkozy's case it's quite evident that this parcel would never have reached its destination."
Earlier this year a letter bomb killed a government aide at the Greek public order ministry.
Author: Holly Fox (AFP, AP, dpa)
Editor: Matt Hermann