TIME BOMBS EXPLODE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 7

TIME BOMBS EXPLODE

British Embassy Damaged STAFF ESCAPE INJURY '(NJZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.55 p.m.) ROME, October 31. Two heavy time bombs exploded outside the British Embassy in Rome early this morning, tearing a gaping hofe in the building. An unconfirmed report says that one Italian passerby was killed and three injured. The British Ambassador’s quarters werd extensively damaged but no .xnenffiers of the Embassy staff were injured. Nearby buildings were damaged and windows were broken within a half-mile radius of the Embassy. Two in two black suitcases exploded simultaneously. * The Italian Foreign Minister, Mr Nenni, told newspaper representatives that the suitcases' were wrapped ip a red flag bearing Polish words meaning “danger—mines.” The security officer at the Embassy said that two patrolling carabinieri found a large case near the front door of the Embassy labelled “mine.” As one of them went to report the discovery the bomb exploded and the other was buried under the falling debris.

The Italian police and British officials have not the slightest clue to the identity of the perpetrators of the explosion, which wrecked an entire wing of the Embassy, says the Rome correspondent of the Associated Press. The explosion, which shook the city at 1.43 a.m., ripped off the facade from the section of the Embassy normally occupied by the Ambassador, Sir Noel Charles, who is at present away from Rome.

Police do not attach any significance to the fact that a red flag was wrapped around the suitcases containing the bombs. The flag was of a type used on Allied vehicles to give warning that mines are being carried.