Island bomb

Press, 30 December 1980, Page 6

Island bomb

NZPA Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe Authorities on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe are investigating an explosion at the airport in the capital, Pointe a Pitre, a few hours before the French President (Mr Valery Giscard d’Estaing) was due to pass through. Mr Giscard is on the island on holiday and is due to return to Paris today. A few hours before the blast President Giscard, who arrived on Sunday from Martinique, discussed with island politicians the problem of guerrilla activities by separatists who want independence from France. He called a recent spate 1

, of bombings — there hase J : been 11 since March —- "isoi la ted acts whose authqrs -will be discovered sooner or i later." The self-styled Armed Libi eration Group on i loupe recently called on all - metropolitan French to leave > the island by December : 31 : or "face the consequences." • ‘ Airport> officials. who i closed the buildings to the’ . r public after the latest blast, W : said the bomb was apparent- 'id > ly, hidden in a left-luggage i locker near the main arrival ; hall. • . The only casualty was res- ' ting in an armchair near the locker, and was hurt in the leg. Windows were . also .. “blown out.