2 Package Bombs Strike Embassies in Rome

updated 6:52 p.m. EST

ROME - Mail bombs exploded inside the hands associated with employees in the Swiss and Chilean
embassies inside Rome on Thursday, seriously wounding a pair of people and also triggering
heightened security checks from diplomatic missions just as holiday deliveries deluge their
particular mailrooms.
The bombs may have been tiny but they will surely increase tension across Europe, exactly where
terrorist alert ranges were already being ratcheted up in anticipation of the feasible significant
attack more than the Christmas period, CBS news Correspondent Allen Pizzey reports.
(Scroll as the result of watch the statement Pizzey filed coming from Rome)
Italian investigators suspected the particular attacks were the work of anarchists, comparable to the
two-day wave involving mail bombs which targeted a range of embassies in Athens last month - such
as individuals associated with Chile and Switzerland. 1 associated with final month's booby-trapped
packages, addressed to Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, was intercepted inside Italy.
Late Thursday night, the actual Italian information agency ANSA reported that the declare through
anarchists was found inside a little box near among the actual wounded employees, and also has
been becoming analyzed by anti-terrorism police squad.
Anti-terrorism police with Rome police headquarters refused to comment about the claim, which
ANSA said had been created with a group known as the Informal Anarchist Federation, or even FAI.
"Long reside FAI, lengthy stay anarchy," the actual claim reportedly said.
Anarchists were blamed through authorities final week regarding bloody clashes in between
protesters as well as police within Rome that marred in just about any other case calm
demonstrations simply by students against any university reform law. The Actual legislation received
final approval throughout parliament Thursday.
For Thursday's twin embassy mail bombs, less than 3 hrs apart, Italian investigators are generally
pursuing the "trail involving anarchists-insurrectionists," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, whose
ministry includes anti-terrorist police, told reporters. "Various elements lead us in order to believe
that this could be the actual correct path."
"These are very violent groups that will will in addition be existing inside Spain along with Greece
and as a result are well connected," the particular minister said.

In Athens, Greek law enforcement officials asserted Greek send parcel london anti-terror police had
been contacted in the evening by Italian colleagues yet which zero hyperlink using the Greek parcel
bombs ended up being immediately apparent.
Rome's police chief, Francesco Tagliente, rushing towards the Chilean diplomatic mission,

mentioned most embassies inside the city had been being alerted.
For about an hour, it seemed as when the Ukrainian embassy, a couple of block's away from Chile's
embassy, had received the package deal bomb. However Tagliente mentioned checks showed that
your suspicious package there was the "false alarm."
Tens regarding a huge quantity of tourists and pilgrims have been pouring into Rome this week with
regard to Christmas ceremonies at the Vatican. Since your Sept. 11 terror attacks within the United
States of America inside 2001, safety continues to be tight in public ceremonies within St. Peter's
Basilica along with Square, using the faithful topic to be able to metal detector checks along with
purse and backpack inspections.
Swiss Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni, speaking to reporters outside his embassy, stated these
devices which exploded ended up mailed, nevertheless he didn't say from where.
A U.S. government source tells CBS news which first reports suggest a parcel envelope was received
at the embassy by way of nearby mail
The bomb in the Chilean embassy ended up being mailed via inside Italy, the particular Italian news
agency ANSA reported. Nevertheless Chilean Ambassador Oscar Godoy mentioned it ended up being
not yet obvious when the bundle - a new medium-sized envelope large sufficient to hold documents
and also addressed for the cultural attache - have been mailed or even delivered with a messenger.
"There were simply no flames, just a little smoke," mentioned Godoy.
The bombs seemed aimed for you to injure or even maim or even kill those opening them.
Surgeons removed an iron bolt that had embedded itself inside the chest in the Chilean embassy
employee who opened the package, stated Massimiliano Talucci, a spokesman regarding Umberto I
Polyclinic, where the man has been hospitalized. Your Chilean also suffered the serious hand wound
as well as encounter injuries, along with risks losing the particular sight in a new single eye. The
Particular Swiss official suffered hand along with chest wounds.
Local sources inside Rome tell CBS your victims' injuries might outcome inside a double amputation.
With Italy's mail services noted for often getting slow, if comparable package deal bombs had been
sent through publish to embassies, it may be days just before they may possibly be delivered.
The package bomb addressed to Berlusconi final month ended up sent through the courier service
aboard the particular courier's cargo plane from Greece to Italy.
Chilean envoy Godoy denounced the particular explosion from his mission as "an absolutely
irrational and also brutal act," and stated there have been simply no threats to indicate it might be a
target.
At the Swiss compound, Regazzoni noted that, besides the anarchist bombs within Greece final
month, inside early October two bottles with a fuse had been found atop an outer wall with the
embassy.
On Nov. 2, suspected Greek anarchists sent 14 mail bombs in order to foreign embassies within
Athens, also as to Berlusconi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy along with German Chancellor

Angela Merkel. A Pair Of of the devices exploded, causing no injuries.

A team known as Conspiracy Nuclei involving Fire claimed responsibility for that Greek blasts. The
idea called upon militants inside Greece as well as other countries to intensify their particular
action, along with Greek police noted Thursday that within the past, acts of "solidarity" have been
completed among Greek along with Italian militant groups.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini mentioned Italian diplomats abroad had been urged to consider
precautions.
The Swiss Embassy increased safety after consulting with Italian authorities along with in which
security at all foreign missions could be reviewed, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said.
Feasible added measures, the girl added, could consist of additional protective walls as well as
fences, surveillance cameras and evacuation plans.
There have been developing concerns throughout Europe concerning holiday season attacks
following a new suicide bombing in Sweden along with safety services' fears involving an assault on
the European town modeled on the deadly shooting spree within Mumbai, India.
On Tuesday, there is a bomb scare in Rome's subway system following authorities discovered the
suspicious package using wires along with powder beneath any seat. The Actual device ended up
becoming the fake, with police determining there is zero trigger mechanism and its the particular
powder has been inert, cement-like material.
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