Greek man arrested over letter bombs sent to EU officials

Image source, AFP/Getty images

Image caption, The former Greek PM was injured in May when he opened one of the explosives inside of his car

Greek police say they have arrested a man in Athens in connection with a series of letter bomb attacks on EU officials earlier this year.

Eight packages were intercepted in Athens in March after booby-trapped post was sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Paris and the German finance minister in Berlin.

Former Greek PM Lucas Papademos was then injured by a parcel-bomb in May.

A 29-year-old Greek man was arrested by anti-terror police on Saturday.

Police said in a statement that they were looking for other suspects in relation to the investigation.

Image source, AFP

Image caption, An employee at the IMF offices in Paris suffered burns while opening one of the letters earlier this year

It is not clear if the man is linked to the Greek far-left group Conspiracy of Fire Cells which said it was responsible for the device sent to German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

The group was previously responsible for a similar spate of letter-bombs sent to officials in 2010 which forced Greek authorities to temporarily suspend international post.

A number of the group's members were given heavy prison sentences in 2011.

The group emerged in 2008 during the height of Greece's financial crisis.

Ex-PM Papademos suffered minor injuries when he opened the explosive parcel in his car.

He served as prime minister between 2011-2012 when he oversaw a wave of controversial austerity measures aimed at securing a European bailout for the country.

Image source, LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

Image caption, Mr Papademos served as Greek prime minister after being a significant figure in European banking

He had previously served as the Governor of the Bank of Greece and vice-president of the European Central Bank.

The other packages intercepted at an Athens postal sorting centre were addressed to EU political figures including the European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici.

Police said the devices contained gunpowder usually found in firecrackers.