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Paris IMF explosion: One person injured in blast after opening parcel | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman has been injured after an explosion at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offices in Paris. | |
French media reported that the person had opened a parcel addressed to a senior IMF official that contained an explosive substance, burning her hands and face. | |
A spokesperson for the Paris prefecture of police said: "An operation is underway for a person injured by a suspicious package with, according to preliminary information, a firework inside." | A spokesperson for the Paris prefecture of police said: "An operation is underway for a person injured by a suspicious package with, according to preliminary information, a firework inside." |
Investigators told BFMTV the device was a "large black cylinder, about 30cm long", with the blast so large the room's ceiling was hit by shrapnel. | |
Around 150 employees were evacuated from the building, in the 16th arrondissement, as a precaution and forensic officers were on site. | |
Officials said telephone threats had been made before the blast but it was unclear whether they were linked. | |
It came a day after a Greek anarchist group claimed responsibility for an explosive package found at the offices of Germany's finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble. | |
"The package contained an explosive mix," Berlin Police said in a statement. "It was designed to cause severe injuries when the package is opened." | "The package contained an explosive mix," Berlin Police said in a statement. "It was designed to cause severe injuries when the package is opened." |
Investigators said the substance found was frequently used in the production of fireworks. | Investigators said the substance found was frequently used in the production of fireworks. |
Greece's interior ministry said the package had a Greek stamp and was falsely put under the name of a New Democracy party member. | Greece's interior ministry said the package had a Greek stamp and was falsely put under the name of a New Democracy party member. |
An investigation is underway into how the explosives bypassed Greek security checks to leave the country. | |
A spokesperson for Berlin Police could not confirm whether the incidents were linked. | |
A left-wing extremist group called Synomosia Pyrinon Tis Fotias (Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei) has claimed responsibility for the package in Germany, Bild reported. | |
After a series of firebombings, several members were arrested in 2009 and 2010 while attempting to send parcel bombs to embassies, EU leaders and organisations. |