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| Paris IMF explosion: One person injured in blast after opening parcel | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Police authorities in Paris said the explosive substance was not a bomb but rather a homemade "big firecracker". | |
| A spokesman for the police said the IMF office had received threatening phone calls in recent days but there was no evidence that they were linked to the incident. | |
| IMF director Christine Lagarde, who is on a trip to Germany, said in a statement she was informed about the explosion. | |
| "I condemn this cowardly act of violence and reaffirm the IMF's resolve to continue our work in line with our mandate," she said. | |
| Around 150 employees were evacuated from the building, in the 16th arrondissement, as a precaution and forensic officers were on site. | Around 150 employees were evacuated from the building, in the 16th arrondissement, as a precaution and forensic officers were on site. |
| President Francois Hollande, who is on a visit to the south of France near Toulon, called the incident "an attack". | |
| Officials said telephone threats had been made before the blast but it was unclear whether they were linked. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |