A violent explosion detonated last night in a National insurance company’s office on Sigrou boulevard. In the same building there is also a branch office of the National bank of Greece. The detonation was so strong, that it felt like an earthquake in all central Athens’ neighborhoods. The explosive caused serious damage of the building and the cars parked near by. A big part of the ground floor could not be recognized. In the other part of the building the service of customers is normal.
Sigrou boulevard had to be closed for few hours due to fragments scattered around. This is the widest boulevard in Athens having 4 lanes in each direction. The drivers, who were on the boulevard at that time felt the blast so strong, that they hardly managed to keep control of the cars. The assault was forerun by a phone call in the editor’s office of left paper “Elefterotipia”. A strange man called and warned that in 15 minutes time a bomb will explode on the ground floor of the National Insurance Company.
The police warned the four guards to leave the building right away. They surrounded the building before the explosion, stopped the traffic of cars and people around it. The case is under the authorities of the terrorism control organization. At the scene is the director of the Greek police Lefteris Ikonomou, who has been there since early morning. Evridamandos street is still closed. It is parallel to Sigrou boulevard and is bordering the building compound of the National Insurance Company.
Meanwhile a new telephone call for an explosive in a branch of the National Bank of Greece on Omonia is keeping police alert. Sections of Patision street (from Verandzerou until Omonia) and Panepistimiou street (from Harilao Trikoupi). At the location are place officers of the fire department and experts checking the area.
Experts compare the act of terrorism with the assault of the organization “People’s will” against offices of National Cadastre from March 19, 2009, and also to the assault against Athens stock exchange, made by Revolutionary Fight, with traditions in the assaults against representatives of the large capital in Greece. National Insurance company is a private organization, owned by the largest bank in Greece – National Bank of Greece. It is interesting to notice that in less than two months this is second act of terrorism in this part of Athens. Despite that police has announced enhanced measures during the holidays exactly because of fears terrorist acts, that became a standard practice, the authors of the attack managed to surprise them. Intensified presence has been set around the buildings of the police departments because of fear of new hit similar to the one against the police office - Aghia Paraskevi in October.
The terrorist organization Revolutionary Fight shot a missile against the American embassy in Athens in January 2007. Despite the police investigation the authors of the attack from three year ago have not yet been penalized.
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