Greece halts air freight for 48 hrs after parcel bombs

Greece on Wednesday suspended all overseas air shipments of mail and parcels addressed to foreign destinations after parcel bombs exploded at the Swiss and Russian embassies in Athens and German Chancellor Angela Merkel was sent a package mailed from the country.

Overseas mail will be halted for 48 hours, Greeks Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The move came after police defused two makeshift explosive devices at Athens International Airport and at least three other packages around the city. No injuries or damage were reported.

The package sent to Merkel three days ago while she was in Belgium was a functional explosive device, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said late Tuesday. If it was the same type of device as the package bombs in Athens, it could have caused not inconsiderable damage.