Indonesian Paris Embassy Bombed

From Reuters:

A package bomb exploded in front of the Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn Friday, causing minor injuries to about 10 people and shattering windows of nearby apartments.

"This is clearly an act with criminal intentions," said Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin, who rushed to the scene in the wealthy 16th arrondissement in western Paris.

"As far as we know, there was no specific threat but we are investigating," he told journalists.

Villepin's words were echoed by President Jacques Chirac who pledged "All means will be deployed to shed light on this criminal act." The apparent French denial of any terrorist underpinnings was not shared by Indonesian president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who condemned the blast as an act of terrorism.

It should be noted that tension is high worldwide due to terrorist attacks yesterday on Egyptian Red Sea resorts crowded with Israeli tourists, killing at least 20 people in bombings that appeared to be the work of al Qaeda. Additionally, the second anniversary of the Bali nightclub bombings has heightened security concerns regarding Indonesia.

Companion post at Backcountry Conservative