Rome Explosions: Anarchists Sought Revenge Against Chile, Switzerland

Parcel bombs that struck the Chilean and Swiss embassies in the Italian capital on Thursday were sent by anarchists, reports said.

Italian Carabinieri and firemen stand in front of the Swiss embassy in Rome on December 23, 2010 after parcel bomb exploded. Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Mail bombs that struck the Chilean and Swiss embassies in the Italian capital on Thursday were sent by anarchists who sought retaliation in response to perceived blows the movement received by the Swiss and Chilean governments, the Italian news agency ANSA and The Associated Press reported on Friday.

A note found at one of the blast sites was signed by the Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI) and said the group wanted to “make our voice heard with words and deeds,” ANSA reported.

“We will destroy the dominant system, long live FAI, long live anarchy,” the note continued. Italian authorities said the claim of responsibility by FAI was “credible,” according to ANSA.

Speaking on Italian state radio, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano said that the Swiss and Chilean embassies were targeted due to incidents that involved anarchists in both countries, the AP said.

According to the AP report citing Italian media, three “eco-terrorists” were arrested in April near Zurich, Switzerland, for allegedly orchestrating an attack on an IBM research center. A Chilean anarchist named Mauricio Morales died last year when the bomb he was carrying blew up in the country’s capital of Santiago.

Since 2003, the FAI has claimed responsibility for several attacks including others that involved parcel bombs, ANSA noted.