Leftists claim French blasts
A group expressing solidarity with a French far-left organization has claimed responsibility for two bomb attacks on French business interests in Athens over the weekend which caused substantial damage but no injuries. The first attack targeted a branch of French bank BNP Paribas in the northern suburb of Maroussi early on Saturday. A group called «Solidarity with Prisoners of Action Directe» called a Greek newspaper 30 minutes before the blast. The second attack targeted a Renault dealership in Dafni early on Sunday. A few hours after the explosion, the same group called a local radio station. According to Agence France-Presse, the blasts coincide with the 20th year of jail time for three former members of Action Directe, which masterminded a series of high-profile assassinations in France in the 1980s.