Explosion at Russia’s Athens embassy

A mail bomb has been intercepted at the Russian Embassy in the Greek capital Athens in the latest in a series of attacks and attempts against foreign embassies.

The Greek Police said that there were no injuries in the controlled explosion on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, a bomb exploded at the Swiss embassy.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry said that the parcel device was left at the Embassy’s entrance and burst into flames when it was being checked by staff. An employee narrowly escaped injury, AFP reported.

Additionally, parcel bombs addressed to the Chilean, German, Bulgarian, Belgian and Dutch embassies in Athens were all intercepted by police.

Another explosive package intended for the French President Nicolas Sarkozy was also found.

Only one person was reported injured on Tuesday when a parcel bomb addressed to the Mexican Embassy exploded at a courier company, leaving a female worker with burn injuries to her hands.

Two men, aged 22 and 24, were arrested on Monday following the blasts. They were reportedly found wearing bulletproof vests and carrying handguns. The men are alleged to be members of an anarchist group connected to arson and minor bomb attacks on offices and homes of politicians in Greece.

The incidents come days before local elections scheduled for Sunday. It also follows deep social unrest from the austerity measures adopted by the government in exchange for a financial bailout by the European Union and International Monetary Fund.