Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-23

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Development ministry bomb similar to others set in 2005, police say

[02] Justice minister becomes godfather of inmate's baby girl

[01] Development ministry bomb similar to others set in 2005, police say

The makeshift explosive device was made up of a detonator, timer and about 200g of explosives, hidden in a tin of Nescafe. The mechanism caused the detonator and about 50 grammes of the explosives to blow up.

Police said it was almost identical to bombs set outside three construction firms in the first half of 2005 and a fourth device that failed to explode outside the Rover car showroom in Glyfada, for which the terror group LED had claimed responsibility in a proclamation.

In all of the above devices there had been a problem with the explosives used, which were possibly too old and did not react.

Officers investigating Thursday's attack estimate that it was also the work of LED but are waiting for some group to officially take responsibility.

The bomb had been placed in a cement flower bed outside the ministry and caused little damage. The area had been cordoned off beforehand following a warning call to the newspaper "Eleftherotypia" so there was no danger to passer's-by.

The makeshift explosive device detonated outside the Development Ministry in Athens at 10:30 pm on Thursday but the explosion was minor, causing limited damage and no injuries.

Thirty minutes before the explosion, an unidentified individual called the offices of the "Eleftherotypia" daily informing them of the time and place where the explosion would occur.

The caller did not claim responsibility for the explosion on behalf of any organisation.

Shortly after the explosion, another unidentified individual placed a call to the same paper, claiming that a bomb would go off outside the Finance Ministry at 11 p.m.

The second call was a prank as there was no other explosion and police did not find any explosive devices in the area.

[02] Justice minister becomes godfather of inmate's baby girl

In a message after the ceremony, Papaligouras stressed that the baby had been christened in prison but the prospect of a life in liberty lay before her.

"This is the message that I want to give today, from here, to all our fellow human beings that are incarcerated: the State and our society has not written them off. They have a right to respect and hope. They have a right to a second chance in life."

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