Bombers Threaten Athens Olympics

Bombers Threaten Athens Olympics
Just 100 days before the start of the Athens Olympics, three bombs exploded outside a police station in the Greek capital yesterday, raising new security concerns about the world's biggest sporting event. The Greek government was quick to play down the blasts, saying there was no evidence to link the explosions with the games and pointed the finger at home-grown extremists. "This is an isolated incident which does not affect whatsoever the Olympic preparation of the country," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said. Britain and France gave Greek Olympics organisers a vote of confidence, but Olympic powerhouse Australia ordered a review of its security arrangements. Athens police, the apparent target of the attacks, also said there was cause for concern. "Those who planted the bombs did not want to just make themselves heard, they wanted to harm people," local police chief George Angellakos said. Security forces have been on high alert amid fears that the Games, the first summer Olympics since the September 11 attacks. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A man walks past a destroyed car behind a police station in the central Athens area of Kallithea after a triple time-bomb attack. (AFP)

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