The US embassy in the Spanish capital of Madrid was the latest target in a spate of letter bombs sent to European leaders, officials have confirmed.
Police in Madrid has confirmed that the US embassy received a letter bomb this morning, which caused a small explosion but no injuries. It was the eighth such device to be sent to European leaders and officials since Monday, with six others being sent to embassies or consulates in other countries.
The bombs are all thought to have come from the same person, who has not been identified. The Spanish police believe it is safe for citizens of Spain, but France and Russia are under higher security measures because there have been more attempted attacks against them.
The BBC reported that French President Hollande warned the public on Friday of an increased risk of "chemical or biological weapons" following recent events in Syria.
A Spanish Guardia Civil officer said officers were called to a postal sorting office close to Atocha station in central Madrid at around 01:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday after reports that two unattended packages had been discovered. One detonated when it was examined by experts, while the other remains intact, the police said.
Police sources told AFP that one of the packages had been addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and was due to be delivered on March 24, but they could not confirm whether this package detonated on Wednesday night during an examination by bomb disposal experts or during earlier checks before delivery.
A second package meant for German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not detonate, La Vanguardia reported, citing a Guardia Civil official. "It was addressed to Merkel, who was in Marbella at the time of the incident," it added. La Vanguardia quoted a Guardia Civil spokesman as saying, "there is nothing that suggests it is linked to her."
The Spanish government said the packages were already being examined by experts. The first report of the incident came from Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau. "At least one has exploded in Atocha," she wrote on Twitter.
Share This Post On
0 comments
Leave a comment
You need to login to leave a comment. Log-in
