Police blocked off the streets surrounding the American embassy building. There were no injuries, and damage appears to be minimal. The rocket shell landed in an unoccupied restroom, shattering windows and causing a small fire.
If you're traveling in Athens this weekend, you may want to avoid the area known as "Embassy Row" and particularly the area around the U.S. Embassy located at 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue in Athens.
More:
- International Herald Tribune: Explosion reported at U.S. embassy in Athens
- Reuters:
If you have business at the U.S. embassy, you may want to use the U.S. Department of State website instead until the situation is sorted out. Many other embassies and consulates are located in the same area; you may want to contact them first before visiting, as some access may be restricted due investigations.
What the Greek government often calls "self-styled anarchists" have been busy in Greece of late, with many attacks on empty buildings, primarily banks, late at night. Some of these attacks have been coordinated; one night saw firebombs strike nine banks in three cities. Visitors may want to rethink using a bank ATM in the wee hours of the morning.
The new Mayor of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis, issued the following statement today: “I roundly condemn the rocket attack which occurred early this morning at the United States Embassy in Athens. Such phenomena deeply offend democracy. I insist on full clarification of this action, in all its facets, and, as the Mayor of Athens, I would like to remind all that our nation staged the 2004 Olympic Games in the utmost safest manner and that the city of Athens is one of the world’s safest capitals, for both its residents and its visitors.�
