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Woman injured as letter bomb explodes at IMF office in Paris Woman injured as letter bomb explodes at IMF office in Paris
(35 minutes later)
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) employee was injured on her arms and face on Thursday when a letter bomb posted to the institution’s Paris office blew up as she opened it, police said.An International Monetary Fund (IMF) employee was injured on her arms and face on Thursday when a letter bomb posted to the institution’s Paris office blew up as she opened it, police said.
The explosion was caused by a “fairly homemade” device, the French capital’s police chief, Michel Cadot, told reporters.The explosion was caused by a “fairly homemade” device, the French capital’s police chief, Michel Cadot, told reporters.
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. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. He said there had been recent telephone threats, but it was not clear whether these were linked to the incident at the IMF’s offices. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Greek counter-terrorism officials were said to be investigating whether the letter bomb had been dispatched from a post office in the Greek capital, a day after an urban guerrilla group, Conspiracy of Fire Cells, claimed responsibility for a parcel bomb sent to the German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble. Greek counter-terrorism officials were said to be investigating whether the letter bomb had been dispatched from a post office in the Greek capital, a day after an urban guerrilla group, Conspiracy of Fire Cells, claimed responsibility for a parcel bomb sent to the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble.
The suspicious parcel was intercepted by German authorities before it reached its recipient. “We still have the rage,” the group said in a statement afterwards. “Nothing is over, everything continues.”The suspicious parcel was intercepted by German authorities before it reached its recipient. “We still have the rage,” the group said in a statement afterwards. “Nothing is over, everything continues.”
Greek intelligence officials were working on the assumption that Thursday’s blast in Paris may have been orchestrated by the same group. Greek anarchist groups have recently heightened criticism of the demands made of Greece by the IMF as discussions continue between Athens and its international creditors on the disbursement of new loans under a bailout programme. Greek intelligence officials were working on the assumption that Thursday’s blast in Paris may have been orchestrated by the same group. Greek anarchist groups have recently heightened criticism of the demands made on Greece by the IMF as discussions continue between Athens and its international creditors on the disbursement of new loans under a bailout programme.
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. France, which is in the middle of a presidential election campaign, 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.
The French president, François Hollande, said French authorities would do all they could to find those responsible for Thursday’s letter bomb. 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 president, François Hollande, said French authorities would do all they could to find those responsible for the letter bomb. A police source said the woman who opened the letter suffered burns on her face and arms but her life was not in danger.
The IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde, condemned the explosion as “a cowardly act of violence”. The IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde, condemned the explosion as “a cowardly act of violence”. She said: “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.”
“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.