Explosion Outside Athens Court Shatters Windows, No Injuries

Explosion Outside Athens Court Shatters Windows, No Injuries
A police officer searches for evidence after a bomb blast at a Court building in Athens, Greece, Dec. 22, 2017. (Reuters/Costas Baltas)
Reuters
12/22/2017
Updated:
12/22/2017

ATHENS—A makeshift bomb exploded outside a Greek court in Athens early on Friday shattering windows and damaging the facade of the building, police officials said.

Shots were also fired at a person guarding the Athens Appeal Court building, Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis told state TV. The Justice Ministry suspended the court’s operation for one day. There were no reports of injuries.

Two Greek media organizations received warning calls at 2:50 a.m. local time before the explosion, one official said.

Police, who had cordoned off the area, later found a bag which contained the makeshift bomb outside the building.

Greek policemen secure the area after a bomb blast at a court building in Athens, Greece, Dec. 22, 2017. (REUTERS/Costas Baltas)
Greek policemen secure the area after a bomb blast at a court building in Athens, Greece, Dec. 22, 2017. (REUTERS/Costas Baltas)
Police officers search for evidence after a bomb blast at a Court building in Athens, Greece, Dec. 22, 2017. (Reuters/Costas Baltas)
Police officers search for evidence after a bomb blast at a Court building in Athens, Greece, Dec. 22, 2017. (Reuters/Costas Baltas)

Police were also investigating footage from cameras nearby, another official said, and reports of two people leaving the scene in a van.

Small-scale attacks on businesses, state buildings, police and politicians are frequent in Greece, which has a long history of political violence.

Public anger remains high after seven years of belt-tightening in a crisis that has cut thousands of jobs and eroded living standards

Protesters have repeatedly tried to block foreclosure auctions of home at courts, a key condition of Greece’s international bailout. Electronic auctions started in November.

By Renee Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou