Teenager Killed; Mother, Sister Injured in Athens Blast

A bomb went off outside a building in central Athens late Sunday, killing a 15-year-old and injuring his mother and sister, said media reports citing police.

Militant leftist groups frequently blow up bombs in Greece, usually targeting police, public buildings or businesses.

Urban violence increased in the country after police shot a teenager in December 1998.

Yesterday’s blast, which occurred outside an association for business management, was first to kill some one in many years, said reports.

“A bomb exploded, we have one dead, a man who was dismembered, and two injured, a woman and her daughter,” a police official was quoted as saying.

Later, police said that the dead person was a 15-year-old teenager and the injured included his 44-year-old mother and 11-year-old sister, reports said.

“The woman, who was slightly injured, and the girl, whose injuries were more serious, have been taken to hospital,” the police official who declined to be named was quoted as saying.

According to police, the victims are immigrants from Afghanistan, reports said.

In explosion, cars and nearby buildings were also damaged, said reports.

Reports said that police cordoned off the area and anti-terrorism police were investigating the scene.

“There was no warning, there was nothing,” a second police official was quoted as saying.

Several suspected members of guerrilla groups have been arrested in recent months.

Self-proclaimed guerrilla group Fire Conspiracy Cells claimed responsibility on March 22 for three small-scale bomb attacks against police and a far-right group.

(Based on internet reports)