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Chile condemns 'cowardly bomb attack' in Santiago | Chile condemns 'cowardly bomb attack' in Santiago |
(34 minutes later) | |
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has condemned a bomb attack on a shopping centre in a busy metro station in the capital Santiago on Monday. | Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has condemned a bomb attack on a shopping centre in a busy metro station in the capital Santiago on Monday. |
The attack, in which 14 people were injured, is one of the worst since democracy was restored in 1990. | The attack, in which 14 people were injured, is one of the worst since democracy was restored in 1990. |
Ms Bachelet called it a "terrorist act, one of the most cowardly we have seen". | Ms Bachelet called it a "terrorist act, one of the most cowardly we have seen". |
There have been around 200 bomb attacks in Santiago in the past decade, with anarchist groups claiming responsibility for many of them. | There have been around 200 bomb attacks in Santiago in the past decade, with anarchist groups claiming responsibility for many of them. |
No-one has so far admitted carrying out this latest bombing. | |
'Safe country' | 'Safe country' |
The president said she would convene a meeting of her security committee on Tuesday to decide how to proceed. | The president said she would convene a meeting of her security committee on Tuesday to decide how to proceed. |
"What's happened is horrible, an abominable act, but Chile is and will continue to be a safe country," Ms Bachelet said. | "What's happened is horrible, an abominable act, but Chile is and will continue to be a safe country," Ms Bachelet said. |
The explosive device went off at lunchtime at a fast-food restaurant in an underground shopping centre at the Escuela Militar metro station. | The explosive device went off at lunchtime at a fast-food restaurant in an underground shopping centre at the Escuela Militar metro station. |
About 150,000 people pass through the station daily. | About 150,000 people pass through the station daily. |
Joanna Magneti, who works in the centre, described the scene: "I was having lunch when I felt the bang. When I went to see what had happened, I saw lots of smoke, people running and shouting, a youngster who was badly injured and a woman with an injured hand." | Joanna Magneti, who works in the centre, described the scene: "I was having lunch when I felt the bang. When I went to see what had happened, I saw lots of smoke, people running and shouting, a youngster who was badly injured and a woman with an injured hand." |
Three people were badly wounded in the blast, and another 11 are also being treated. | Three people were badly wounded in the blast, and another 11 are also being treated. |
Ms Bachelet said it was "one of the most cowardly acts we've seen because it had as its objective to maim, spread fear and even kill innocent people". | Ms Bachelet said it was "one of the most cowardly acts we've seen because it had as its objective to maim, spread fear and even kill innocent people". |
Chile's Interior Minister said Ms Bachelet mother, Angela Jeria, had been in the area at the time the bomb went off. | Chile's Interior Minister said Ms Bachelet mother, Angela Jeria, had been in the area at the time the bomb went off. |
He said she had been shopping in the centre, but had not been injured. However, he did not indicate whether she may have been the target of the attack. | He said she had been shopping in the centre, but had not been injured. However, he did not indicate whether she may have been the target of the attack. |
'No rest' | 'No rest' |
Police said the explosive device had been planted in a rubbish bin. Metro officials said they would remove bins from key stations as a precautionary measure. | Police said the explosive device had been planted in a rubbish bin. Metro officials said they would remove bins from key stations as a precautionary measure. |
Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said the government "would not rest until those responsible are behind bars". | Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said the government "would not rest until those responsible are behind bars". |
Bombs regularly explode outside banks and other targets in the capital, such as police stations, army barracks, and the headquarters of political parties. | Bombs regularly explode outside banks and other targets in the capital, such as police stations, army barracks, and the headquarters of political parties. |
But the BBC's Gideon Long says most have been timed to go off at night when the streets are largely empty, and only a handful of passers-by have been injured, none seriously. | But the BBC's Gideon Long says most have been timed to go off at night when the streets are largely empty, and only a handful of passers-by have been injured, none seriously. |
Our correspondent says that despite years of investigation, police and prosecutors have struggled to bring those behind past bomb attacks to justice. | Our correspondent says that despite years of investigation, police and prosecutors have struggled to bring those behind past bomb attacks to justice. |
Ms Bachelet said she would invoke Chile's anti-terror laws which allows for the extended detention of suspects without charge and longer sentences on conviction. | Ms Bachelet said she would invoke Chile's anti-terror laws which allows for the extended detention of suspects without charge and longer sentences on conviction. |
Mr Penailillo said security at metro stations would be increased and called on residents to report anything unusual. | Mr Penailillo said security at metro stations would be increased and called on residents to report anything unusual. |
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