Fears of bomb in Rome after explosion near the Post Office – UPDATE+LIVESTREAM
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.
UPDATE: Police told reporters there was no immediate suspicion of Islamist terrorism, with officers believing the blast was an “act of protest”.
UPDATE: The homemade device was placed between two cars in a car park in Via Marmorata, which links the River Tiber with the Pyramid of Caius Cestius in central Rome, according to a report from Il Giornale.
Police and bomb squads are at the scene, and the area remains cordoned off.
Roma:2 gli ordigni detonati in via Marmorata senza causare feriti. Danneggiate due autovetture.Allarmi bomba al Colosseo ed al Circo massimo pic.twitter.com/wDRrNwVoG7
— Yamas (@2014Monaco) May 12, 2017
“Initial information suggests a car has been damaged,” La Repubblica newspaper said on its website.
Package bomb explodes outside Rome post office. Car damages. No injuries. pic.twitter.com/SzQl66k1Lp
— Barbie Latza Nadeau (@BLNadeau) May 12, 2017
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.
Paura a #Roma: #bomba carta esplode in strada https://t.co/U2j6M75yif pic.twitter.com/nM0tVdOOHy
— ilGiornale (@ilgiornale) May 12, 2017
RAI said two devices had been found near parked cars in the area, where authorities were exploring all possible causes, including that the explosive may have been a letter bomb or a similar improvised device. Television footage showed police officers and firefighters at the scene, and police tape blocking off part of the street.
Attentato con bomba carta a sede postale a Roma #roma https://t.co/OxoRrK7jEC pic.twitter.com/vdC5nKY6tJ
— Tgcom24 (@MediasetTgcom24) May 12, 2017
Similar explosions in the past in Italian cities have been frequently blamed on anarchists. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.