The Greek government and opposition parties on Friday condemned an early morning projectile attack against the US Embassy in Athens, which caused minor damage but no injuries, while Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis conferred with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras after their visits to the Embassy.

Bakoyannis visited the Embassy where she spoke with US Ambassador Charles Ries, while Public Order minister Vyron Polydoras condemned "this act of violence with a strong sense of abhorrence", and Ries himself stressed that Greek-US relations would not be affected.

"Counter-terrorism experts are at the scene. Any other statements at this time would be premature," Bakoyannis told reporters, with Ries appearing at her side.

She also said that she went to the embassy to express the Prime Minister's and the government's support to Ries.

"Phenomena such as these have cost so much to our country in the past, socially and economically as well as politically. The Greek government is determined to make every effort so as not to allow such phenomena again," Bakoyannis said.

Questioned on the type of attack, the Foreign Minister said that "I have nothing more to say. The Public Order Ministry is examining every prospect, with the cooperation of the American intelligence services, and we expect an announcement by them".

Meanwhile, an announcement by the Public Order Ministry, whose minister Vyron Polydoras also visited the embassy and conferred with the US Ambassador, said that the attack occurred at 5:58 a.m. and was carried out by a "self-propelled explosive projectile".

The Ministry announced that the projectile caused minor material damage to the building's glass front and roof, adding that no injuries resulted from the attack.

The announcement further said that the relevant services mobilised immediately and the area surrounding the area was cordoned off, adding that "scrutinizing search" was being carried out in the surrounding area.

The Special Violent Crimes Directorate (DAEEB) was conducting a preliminary investigation, in cooperation with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (DEE) and the Attica Security Police's State Security sub-directorate, the announcement said, adding that the Greek authorities were working in close cooperation with the US Embassy authorities.

A strong blast was reported shortly before 6 a.m. (4 a.m. GMT) at the US embassy in Athens, with Greek authorities now investigating inside the compound, according to the US ambassador.

"This attack came from the outside. There is no justification for such an act of violence," US Ambassador Charles Ries told reporters outside the embassy nearly two hours after the attack.

Earlier, the US State Department had also confirmed that no injuries resulted from the incident.

Initial reports noted that the Embassy's facade was hit by some type of projectile from outside, possibly a rocket. What appeared to be a hole was visible very near the embassy's emblem, on the front side of the compound building along Vassilissis Sofias Boulevard.

Ries added that he has not as yet visited the exact site where the projectile hit, which he called a "crime scene", in answer to a question on what, if any, findings were discovered, i.e. remnants of a rocket or RPG. He also refused to call the episode an "act of terror" for the moment, noting instead that it was a "very serious" incident.

Greek police cordoned-off the premises around the embassy, which takes up an entire city block, and is one of the most heavily guarded and CCTV-monitored sites in the Greek capital. Traffic was interrupted around the embassy, and US officials have promised to open the embassy "as soon as possible".

In other statements, Ries said he spoke with Foreign Minister Bakoyannis by phone immediately after the incident, with the latter expressing the Greek government’s assurance of cooperation to find the perpetrators of the attack. Additionally, Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras arrived at the embassy shortly before Ries’ statements.

Papoulias

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, commenting the terrorist attack, expressed the horror of the Greek people and a strong condemnation of the attack to Ries.

According to an announcement by Papoulias’ office, the President’s message was conveyed to Ries by the General Secretary of the Presidency Ambassador Constantine Georgiou, who visited the US Embassy and met with US Ambassador.

FM’s letter to Rice

In a press briefing in early afternoon, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that Bakoyannis had sent Rice a letter in which she emphatically condemned Friday’s attack and reiterated the Greek side’s volition to eradicate any form of terrorism.

Government’s Spokesman

The Government and the entire Greek people condemn with absolute horror Friday’s rocket attack against the US Embassy in Athens, Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos told reporters at a press briefing. Relations between Greece and the US are excellent and will remain excellent, he added.

The spokesman underlined that actions of this sort were targeted against Democracy and the interest of the country and had no support from the Greek people.

“The Government’s determination is given and the struggle against terrorism is ongoing and relentless” Roussopoulos stressed.

Regarding the attack, the spokesman insisted that the “basic loci” of terrorism in Greece had been neutralized and that Friday’s attack was an “isolated incident”.  

Public Order Minister

Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, who appeared with the US Ambassador before reporters after their meeting, said he went to the Embassy to express support to both the embassy and the ambassador.

He said the attack was an "act of violence that provokes the Greek public opinion and attempts to disrupt the country's international relations".

The Greek police has undertaken the operational responsibility of the investigation, adding that "we must be sovereign and scrutinizing in the investigation".

"Operationally, it was an act of symbolism," Polydoras said, adding that the government "condemns it with a strong sense of abhorrence".

Polydoras further confirmed earlier reports that two phone calls had been placed by unidentified callers, one to the security company that guards the embassy and another "elsewhere", claiming to assume responibility of the attack on behalf of the organisation "Revolutionary Struggle", adding that all possibilities were being investigated.

PASOK Leader

Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou telephoned Ambassador Ries, who briefed him on the incident, and to whom he expressed his condemnation of and abhorrence over the action.

Papandreou further expressed hope that the incident would not create problems in the good bilateral relations between the two countries.

US Ambassador

US ambassador to Greece Charles Ries told reporters that Greek-US relations would not be affected, and noted the Embassy's close cooperation with the Greek authorities in seeking the perpetrators, stressing that the Greek government was handling the investigation, in cooperation with the Embassy.

Replying to press questions, Ries said that the incident will not affect the relations between the two countries.

"Greek-American relations are excellent, and will remain so," the ambassador said.

Earlier, Ries had said that "this attack came from the outside. There can be no justification for such a senseless act of violence," speaking to reporters outside the embassy nearly two hours after the attack, adding that he had not yet visited the spot where the projectile hit, which he called a "crime scene", in answer to a question on what, if any, findings were discovered, i.e. remnants of a rocket or RPG. He also refused to call the episode an "act of terror" for the moment, noting instead that it was a "very serious" incident.

State Department comment

"At approximately 11 pm eastern time, 6 am local time (0400 GMT) there was an explosion at the US embassy in Athens," State Deparment spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in Washington. "There are no injuries or casualties of any kind. Police have responded. As a result, the embassy will be closed today, Friday the 12th of January."

Source: Athens News Agency

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