Athens, May 13: Two small gas containers exploded outside a Greek bank office in the Athens suburb of Voula overnight, causing minor material damage, police said today. The blasts in front of an alpha bank cash machine came exactly three months before the start of the Olympic games in the Greek capital and eight days after three explosive devices went off outside a police station in the Athens neighbourhood of Kallithea without causing injuries.
Officials at the time ruled out any link to the games and blamed the blasts caused by dynamite sticks, timers and detonators on Greek far-left extremists.
Alpha bank is one of the sponsors of the Olympic games.
Gas containers have been used in several minor attacks in Athens over the past years, which were generally attributed to anarchists or far-left extremists.
Responsibility for these attacks, which are believed to have been carried out by individuals rather than structured groups, has rarely been claimed.
Police said today that a third gas container may have been used in the attack outside the alpha bank but that this would have to be confirmed.
Public order minister George Voulgarakis has said that last week's attacks damaged Greece's image overseas in the run-up to the summer games.
Bureau Report