Letter bomb explodes at IMF headquarters in Paris
The letter exploded when it was opened this morning.
A police source in France said that one person was slightly injured to the face.
No other damage has been reported from the incident in western Paris, a police official said.
The Paris police department said on Twitter an operation was ongoing at the offices of the IMF and World Bank after a person was hurt following the apparent explosion of a suspect package.
Staff from the IMF office were evacuated and armed military officers and police guarded the area, in a chic district of western Paris.
It is unclear who sent the explosive.
Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF, said: ‘I have been informed about the explosion in the IMF’s Paris office, which caused injuries to one of our staff.
‘I have been in touch with the office and my compassion goes to the colleagues there.
‘I condemn this cowardly act of violence and reaffirm the IMF’s resolve to continue our work in line with our mandate.
‘We are working closely with the French authorities to investigate this incident and ensure the safety of our staff.’
‘An envelope exploded after it was opened and one person was slightly injured in the offices of the IMF,’ a source told Reuters.
The incident, just six weeks before a presidential election, comes as a militant Greek group Conspiracy of Fire Cells claimed responsibility for a parcel bomb mailed to German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Wednesday.
France remains in a state of emergency after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks over the past two years.
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