- News>
- Others
Bomb blasts hit Athens 100 days before Olympics start
Athens, May 05: Three homemade bombs exploded outside an Athens police station early today causing no injuries, but renewing fears about security in the Greek capital just 100 days before it hosts the 2004 Olympic Games.
Athens, May 05: Three homemade bombs exploded outside
an Athens police station early today causing no injuries, but
renewing fears about security in the Greek capital just 100
days before it hosts the 2004 Olympic Games.
As police blamed the country's leftwing extremist groups
for being behind the blasts, Greek Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis vowed they would not jeopardise the security of the
games which start on August 13.
"This is an isolated incident which does not affect whatsoever the country's preparations for the safety of the Olympics," Karamanlis told reporters. "The effort of the Greek people and its close cooperation with the relevant authorities of the European Union, Nato and the United States guarantee the safety of the Athens Olympic Games," Karamanlis added.
The games, the first summer Olympics to be held since the September 11, 2001 attacks, are due to open amid unprecedented security, with Nato finalising a plan to provide air and sea surveillance. Greece officially asked for the alliance's help after the March 11 bombings on four commuter trains in Madrid killed close to 200 people, in an attack linked to the al-Qaeda network of chief terror suspect Osama Bin Laden.
Greek officials sought swiftly to blame homegrown groups for today's blasts.
"There is absolutely no reason to link this incident with the Olympics. It is a local affair," a senior police official told on condition of anonymity.
Bureau Report
"This is an isolated incident which does not affect whatsoever the country's preparations for the safety of the Olympics," Karamanlis told reporters. "The effort of the Greek people and its close cooperation with the relevant authorities of the European Union, Nato and the United States guarantee the safety of the Athens Olympic Games," Karamanlis added.
The games, the first summer Olympics to be held since the September 11, 2001 attacks, are due to open amid unprecedented security, with Nato finalising a plan to provide air and sea surveillance. Greece officially asked for the alliance's help after the March 11 bombings on four commuter trains in Madrid killed close to 200 people, in an attack linked to the al-Qaeda network of chief terror suspect Osama Bin Laden.
Greek officials sought swiftly to blame homegrown groups for today's blasts.
"There is absolutely no reason to link this incident with the Olympics. It is a local affair," a senior police official told on condition of anonymity.
Bureau Report