Haidari blast was arson, says fire department

An explosion in the early hours of Tuesday in a cafe/bar in the western Athenian suburb of Haidari was due to arson, according to firefighters, who took three hours to contain the flames from the original explosion from spreading to adjacent establishments, which suffered extensive damages mainly from the powerful blast.

No injuries were reported as the establishments were closed for the night.

After extinguishing the fire, which spread as the initial explosion ignited a number of propane heaters stored in the cafe/bar, arson investigators found traces of a homemade incendiary device planted in front of the establishment, located on the ground floor of a three-story building on the corner of Laconia and Karaiskaki streets.

Police are investigating the possibility that the arson attack is linked to protection rackets.

Ekathimerini.com