Parcel Bomb Explodes At IMF Office

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde on Thursday condemned the letter bomb of the fund office in Paris as a “ cowardly act . ”

IMF managing Director Christine Lagarde 

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde on Thursday condemned the letter bomb of the fund office in Paris as a “ cowardly act . ”
“ I condemn this cowardly act of violence and reaffirm the IMF’ s resolve to continue our work in line with our mandate , ” Lagarde said in a statement from Frankfurt, where she is attending a conference ahead of the Group of 20 finance ministers meeting in Baden - Baden .
One IMF staff member was injured in the explosion .

The IMF employee who opened the letter received hand and face injuries, and staff were evacuated.
It came after a parcel bomb meant for German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was intercepted on Wednesday.
Greek far-left group the Conspiracy of Fire Cells claimed responsibility for sending that device.

French President Francois Hollande has noted a "similarity" between the two incidents.
"We are trying to establish the causes of what happened as part of an international investigation," he said.
IMF director Christine Lagarde condemned the "cowardly act of violence" against IMF staff.

Ms Lagarde said in a statement that the IMF was working closely with the French authorities to investigate the letter blast.
Greece's deputy minister for public order, Nikos Toskas, sad in a TV interview that the letter bomb was sent in the name of Vassilis Kikilias, a senior opposition politician from the conservative New Democracy party.
It bore a return address of an office in Greece "that is no longer in use", he said.

The letter bomb sent on Wednesday to Mr Schaeuble, which was intercepted and destroyed before it could explode, was sent in the name of Adonis Georgiadis, New Democracy's vice-chairman.
The explosive sent to the IMF was like a "big firecracker" and was sent by post, Paris police chief Michel Cadot said.
Lagarde said the fund is “ working closely with the French authorities to investigate this incident and ensure the safety of our staff . ”