This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/16/letter-explodes-international-monetary-fund-offices-paris

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Letter explodes at International Monetary Fund offices in Paris Letter bomb explodes at IMF offices in Paris
(about 1 hour later)
A letter exploded when it was opened at the International Monetary Fund offices in central Paris, injuring one person in the face . A female International Monetary Fund (IMF) employee was injured on her arms and face on Thursday when a letter bomb posted to the world lender’s Paris office blew up as she opened it, police said.
Police said there had been telephone threats against the IMF but it was not clear if they were linked to the explosive device. It was also unclear who had sent the device. The explosion was caused by a “fairly homemade” device, the French capital’s police chief, Michel Cadot, told reporters.
Christine Lagarde, the head of the IMF, said in a statement: “I have been informed about the the explosion in the IMF’s Paris office, which caused injuries to one of our staff. I have been in touch with the office, and my compassion goes to the colleagues there. Cadot said there had been recent telephone threats, but that it was not clear whether these were linked to the incident at the IMF’s offices.
“I condemn this cowardly act of violence and reaffirm the IMF’s resolve to continue our work in line with our mandate. We are working closely with the French authorities to investigate this incident and ensure the safety of our staff.” A police source said the woman who opened the letter suffered burns on her face and arms but that her life was not in danger.
The incident, just six weeks before a presidential election, comes as a militant Greek group, Conspiracy of Fire Cells, claimed responsibility for a parcel bomb mailed to German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble. Separately, at least two people were injured in a shooting at a high school in the small southern French town of Grasse, a police source said.
France remains in a state of emergency after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks over the past two years. France, which is in the middle of a presidential campaign ahead of elections in six weeks’ time, has been hit by attacks by Islamist groups in the past few years that have killed scores of people. The country is still in a state of emergency with army units on patrol in Paris.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report A militant Greek group, Conspiracy of Fire Cells, claimed responsibility for a parcel bomb mailed to German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble on Wednesday, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Paris bomb.
The IMF has been involved in discussions between Greece and its international creditors on disbursing new loans to Athens under a bailout programme.
President François Hollande said French authorities would do all they could to find those responsible.
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde condemned the explosion as “a cowardly act of violence”.
“I reaffirm the IMF’s resolve to continue our work in line with our mandate. We are working closely with the French authorities to investigate this incident and ensure the safety of our staff,” she said.