U.S. embassy in Greece hit by rocket explosion

The explosion at the U.S. embassy in central Athens early on Friday morning was caused by a "self-propelled explosive projectile" fired from very nearby, a statement by the Greek Public Order Ministry said

The ministry said that the projectile caused minor material damage to the building's glass front and roof, adding that there had been no injuries.

The statement also said that relevant services were mobilized immediately after the bombing and the surrounding area had been cordoned off. A "scrutinizing search" was being carried out in the vicinity of the embassy, it said.

A preliminary investigation was been carried out by the Special Violent Crimes Directorate (DAEEB), the Criminal Investigations Directorate (DEE) and Attica Security Police's State Security sub-directorate, the statement said, adding that the Greek authorities were working in close cooperation with the U.S. embassy authorities.

Any further developments would be released in another announcement, the ministry said.

The strong blast was reported shortly before 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT). Initial reports said that the embassy's facade was hit by some type of projectile from outside, possibly a rocket. What appeared to be a hole was visible very near to the embassy's emblem, on the front side of the compound building along Vassilissis Sofias Boulevard.

Witnesses said the explosion was so powerful that it could be clearly heard 500 meters away.

"This attack came from the outside. There is no justification for such an act of violence," U.S. Ambassador Charles Ries told reporters outside the embassy nearly two hours after the attack.

Ries, who spoke with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on the phone immediately after the incident, added that he had not yet visited the exact site where the projectile hit, which he called a "crime scene."

He also declined to call the episode an "act of terror" for the moment, saying instead that it was a "very serious" incident.

Earlier, the U.S. State Department confirmed that there had been no injuries as a result of the incident.

Greek police cordoned-off the area around the embassy, which takes up an entire city block and is one of the most heavily guarded and monitored sites in the Greek capital.

Traffic was interrupted around the site, and U.S. officials have promised to open the embassy "as soon as possible."

Source: Xinhua