Car bomb explodes outside Bank of Greece building in AthensApril 10, 2014 - 09:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A car bomb went off outside a Bank of Greece building in central Athens early on Thursday, April 10, smashing windows in nearby shops but causing no injuries Reuters reported, citing police and witnesses. The blast struck hours before Greece planned its first foray into the international bond markets since it plunged into a debt crisis four years ago, and a day before a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. An anonymous caller warned a newspaper of the attack about 45 minutes before the explosion just before 6 am, saying it contained about 70 kg (155 pounds) of explosives, said a police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but police believed leftist or anarchist groups were behind it, the official said. Witnesses saw debris strewn across the street in a busy part of the capital lined with banks, shops and a mall, according to Reuters. Makeshift bomb and arson attacks have escalated since Greece adopted unpopular austerity measures in exchange for multibillion euro bailouts by the European Union and International Monetary Fund in 2010. Small scale attacks against politicians, journalists and businesspeople are frequent in Greece, with its long history of political violence. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |