Greek PM condemns Athens bomb blast on TV station as 'attack on democracy'

Greek police experts search for evidence after a bomb blast outside the Greece's SKAI TV building in Athens
Greek forensics experts search for evidence after a bomb blast outside the Greece's SKAI TV building in Athens Credit: ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images

A powerful bomb exploded early Monday outside the southern Athens headquarters of Greece's private Skai broadcaster, which has been strongly critical of government policies, damaging the glass-fronted building but causing no injuries.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, which resembled attacks by domestic extreme left-wing and anarchist groups, whose past targets have included media groups.

Greece's Left-wing government, which has harshly and repeatedly criticised Skai for its perceived anti-government bias, strongly condemned the bombing.

Alexis Tsipras, the prime minister, issued a statement condemning the "attack by cowardly and dark forces against democracy itself." "I express my frank solidarity with the broadcaster's journalists and employees," he added.

A bomb blast early Monday caused damage to a the building housing the headquarters of Greece's private radio and television network Skai
A bomb blast early Monday caused damage to a the building housing the headquarters of Greece's private radio and television network Skai Credit: ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images

Police said the blast occurred at 2.35 am local time outside the Skai TV and radio building - where the respected Kathimerini newspaper is also housed - after telephoned warnings to a news website and another TV station prompted authorities to evacuate the building.

The attackers escaped undetected after planting the bomb, which detonated 45 minutes after the warning calls. Police, who were checking cameras in the area for possible clues on the bombers, said the device had contained at least five kilograms of explosives.

"This was a strike against democracy. Thankfully, there was only material damage - it's a relief that no one was hurt - following the swift action taken by the police," Olga Gerovasili, the public order minister, said.

She said anti-terrorism police are leading the investigation.

The Skai network has been critical of the SYriza government
The Skai network has been critical of the Syriza government Credit: ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images

Skai said it had warned authorities, to no avail, that it had been receiving threats.

It also linked the attack with the strong criticism Skai had been receiving from the government, which has banned its officials from appearing on Skai broadcasts to protest reporting that the government sees as biased against it.

"Government officials and propaganda mechanisms have rendered our station a target," a Skai statement said. "Following today's dramatic development they must understand the weight and full extent of their incendiary comments."

The blast shattered windows and damaged the front of the building, and tore through front offices. Nearby apartment buildings and cars were also damaged.

The explosive device was attached to a metal crash barrier on a busy coastal road in the southern Faliro area. Dozens of police investigators wearing white coveralls collected evidence from the scene, much of which remained cordoned off.

Skai continued its live TV broadcast, reporting from outside the building, while radio broadcasts from inside the building were also operating.

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