Explosion outside building near Aventine hill, which damaged a car but caused no injuries, was probably ‘a demonstrative act’

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A rudimentary explosive device detonated between parked vehicles outside a post office in Rome, causing no injuries but damaging a car.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the blast was likely to have been “a demonstrative act, showing that it could be done”, rather than being devised to cause major damage, Rome police official Massimo Improta told reporters on Friday.

Similar explosions in Rome and other Italian cities in recent years have frequently been blamed on or claimed by anarchists. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest blast.

The post office, an imposing, 1930s fascist-era building that is often studied by architecture students, remained open throughout the incident.

The small blast occurred in a parking area outside a side entrance where people go to pick up mail the post office could not deliver because no one was home.

Improta said a trigger, set off by a timer, initiated the explosion, which then ignited gasoline inside a plastic container that was part of the device, a noisy sequence leading some people at first to think there were two explosions.

“The assembling of the materials wasn’t haphazard, but it was done by an incompetent person, or people,” Improta said. “We do not think the intention was to strike anyone.”

The post office serves the residential Testaccio neighbourhood and is near the foot of the Aventine hill, the southernmost of Rome’s seven hills.</s>ROME -- A rudimentary explosive device exploded between parked vehicles outside a post office in Rome on Friday, causing no injuries but damaging a car, police said.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the blast likely was "a demonstrative act, showing that it could be done," but apparently not designed to cause major damage, Rome police official Massimo Improta told reporters.

Similar explosions in Rome and other Italian cities in recent years have frequently been blamed on or claimed by anarchists. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The post office, an imposing, 1930s Fascist-era building that is often studied by architecture students, remained opened throughout the incident.

The blast occurred in a small parking area outside a side entrance where people go to pick up packages that the post office couldn't deliver because no one was home.

Improta said that a trigger, set off by a timer, initiated the explosion, which then ignited gasoline inside a plastic container that was part of the device, a noisy sequence leading some people at first to think there were two explosions.

The post office serves the residential Testaccio neighbourhood and is near the foot of the Aventine Hill.</s>Emergency services are responding to an explosion outside a post office in Rome.

Early reports suggest there have not been any injuries from the incident on Viale Aventino, but a car has been damaged.</s>An explosion took place near a post office in Rome, Italy, on Friday, reported Express. A United Nations building is in the area where the blast happened. It is not yet clear what caused the explosion. Local media reported that nobody has been injured in the incident.

A car was damaged in the explosion. Local media reported that a parcel bomb was placed between two vehicles in the parking lot for the post office employees. The area has been cordoned off, and police personnel and bomb squads have been deployed.</s>An explosion has been reported outside a post office in Rome. No injuries were reported after the blast.

Italian news agency Ansa reported that the explosion was caused by a "rudimentary device" placed between two cars in a car park near the post office in Marmorata street.

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It is believed the blast damaged at least one car.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing and security forces have cordoned off the affected area.

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According to Il Messaggero newspaper, there were two explosions, not one.

"We heard a loud noise. I thought some furniture had fallen from the upper floor, but then I saw the flames," a witness who works in front of the post office said.

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The motive behind the attack is not clear yet. Authorities are looking into all options, including a possible attack by anarchist groups.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated regularly as new information and developments become available.

IBTimes UK is a news organisation that keeps its global audience of 55 million monthly readers in the know with quality storytelling and analysis of global relevance. Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IBTimesUK/) and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/IBTimesUK) where we will keep you up to date with the latest news, pictures and video as it happens. We provide comprehensive coverage of domestic and foreign news, business, sport, entertainment, science and technology, aiming to keep our intellectually curious readers interested and engaged.

You may be interested in:</s>Friday, May 12, 2017 at 4:59 am |

ROME (AP) - Police in Rome say an explosion outside a post office appears to have been caused by a rudimentary explosive device placed between two parked cars.

The blast Friday morning during business hours in the parking area near a side entrance to the post office caused no injuries but damaged a vehicle.

The post office serves the residential Testaccio neighborhood and is near the foot of the Aventine Hill.

Similar explosions in the past in Italian cities have been frequently blamed on anarchists.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.</s>An explosion was reported near a post office in central Rome on Friday morning, Italian media said. According to news agency Reuters, reports suggest that no one was injured in the blast, which could have been a paper or parcel bomb. It is reported that the blast occurred during business hours in the parking area of the post office with the bomb being placed between two parked cars.

“Initial information suggests a car has been damaged,” La Repubblica newspaper reportedly said on its website.

The post office is located at the residential Testaccio neighborhood and is near the foot of the Aventine Hill, news agency AP said.

According to AP, though no one has claimed responsibility for the explosion, similar ones in the past in Italian cities have been blamed on ‘anarchists’.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App now</s>An explosion occurred near a post office in central Rome on Friday, Italian media have reported.

The report added that no one appeared to have been injured in the blast, which may have been a paper or parcel bomb.

“Initial information suggests a car has been damaged,” La Repubblica newspaper said on its website.

Information service Luceverde, run by the Italian Automobile Club in collaboration with city police, said on Twitter that “technical checks” were being carried out near the post office.

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Also, Like us on facebook</s>Italian police are investigating a possible attack in Rome Friday morning after two small explosions were apparently detonated outside a post office.

The possibly homemade devices using flammable liquid caused no injuries but did damage an adjacent car. Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports police are investigating the possibility that the blast, which took place at 9:20 am local time, was a “demonstrative act” and the choice of weapon and target — a post office — suggests the culprits may have been part of an “anarchist network”.

Police investigation so far has determined the explosions were not accidental but was a deliberate act. A police spokesman said: “The crude bomb was found between two parked cars in a parking space. It is the reserved parking at the post office, but we do not think there was a willingness to hit someone. It’s a demonstration.”

Security has been stepped up at Rome’s 1932 Fascist-era Brutalist style Marmorata post office, because of its perceived prominence as a target. A second bomb alert was triggered outside the ancient Roman building the Circus Maximus minutes after the post office blast Friday morning, but an inspection by police discovered the suspected device was actually a pair of builder’s sand bags.</s>ROME, May 12 (Reuters) - An explosion occurred near a post office in central Rome on Friday, Italian media reported, adding that no one appeared to have been injured in the blast, which may have been a paper or parcel bomb.

"Initial information suggests a car has been damaged," La Repubblica newspaper said on its website.

Information service Luceverde, run by the Italian Automobile Club in collaboration with city police, said on Twitter that "technical checks" were being carried out near the post office. (Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
An explosion outside a prominent post office in Rome causes damage to a car; however, no injuries or deaths have been reported. A preliminary investigation indicated it was most likely “a demonstrative act, showing that it could be done”.