Rome: Package bombs explode at 2 embassies

2 reported hurt in separate blasts at Chile, Swiss embassies; interior minister says anarchists believed responsible for attacks.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Swiss embassy rome 311 AP (photo credit: Associated Press)
Swiss embassy rome 311 AP
(photo credit: Associated Press)
ROME — Package bombs exploded at the Swiss and Chilean embassies in Rome  on Thursday, injuring the two people who opened them. The interior minister said anarchists were believed responsible and linked the attacks to similar bombings at embassies in Greece last month.
All embassies in the capital were informed of the blasts and Italian diplomats abroad were urged to take precautions.
No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said investigators were following the "anarchist-insurrectionalist path" given that a similar letter bomb campaign in Athens last month was claimed by Greek radical anarchists.
"Various elements lead us to believe that this is the correct path," he said, according to the ANSA news agency. "These are very violent groups that are present in Spain and Greece and are very well connected."
On Nov. 2, suspected Greek radical anarchists sent 14 mail bombs to foreign embassies in Athens — including the Swiss — as well as to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Nobody was hurt and only two devices exploded, causing no injuries. A group called Conspiracy Nuclei of Fire claimed responsibility.
That group called on militants in Greece and other countries to step up their action, and Greek police noted Thursday that in the past, acts of "solidarity" have been carried out between Greek and Italian militant groups.