ECB chief sent suspect letter bomb
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Trichet
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FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) -- European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet was sent a suspected letter bomb, police said Monday, two days after a parcel exploded in the hands of European Commission President Romano Prodi.
The device, which was sent from the Italian city of Bologna, was discovered in the post room at the Frankfurt-based central bank around 1020 GMT Monday, a police spokesman said.
The letter was being examined by specialists from the Hesse state criminal agency with results not expected before Tuesday, he added.
On Saturday, a parcel bomb exploded when Prodi opened it at his Bologna home. He was not hurt.
The former Italian prime minister said he opened the parcel very carefully after "recent warnings," apparently in reference to two small home-made bombs that exploded in rubbish bins near his Bologna apartment on December 22.
The ECB confirmed it had received a "suspicious letter" addressed to Trichet on Monday morning that prompted the bank to inform the police.
"The police were informed immediately and are investigating. I can give no further details at this point," said an ECB spokesman.
Trichet, former Governor of the Bank of France, took over as head of the European central bank in November from Dutch banker Wim Duisenberg. (Trichet profile)
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