Explosive device thrown at French Embassy in Athens

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS

An explosive device was thrown at the French Embassy in Athens early Thursday morning, according to police and local media in the Greek capital.

According to a police statement, two unidentified people riding a motorcycle threw what they believe to be a hand grenade at the main entrance of the embassy, causing minor injury to the security officer who was on guard.

The area around the French Embassy – across from the Old Royal Palace in downtown Athens, where Greece’s Parliament meets – remains blocked, even though it is one of the most highly guarded areas in Athens.

Police units are collecting information and investigating the area of the attack, while the motorcycle was found later in Exarcheia, a nearby neighborhood famous for anarchists, and is believed to be stolen.

The attack occurred just a few days before the official visit of U.S. President Barrack Obama to Athens. Similar attacks occurred in 2009 using hand grenades and were carried out by terrorist group Revolutionary Struggle.