Small blast reported near Israeli, U.K. embassies in Chilean capital
No reports of casualties; local journalist says explosion caused by 'small cylinder with exploding powder and a timer.'
By ReutersAn explosion occurred Monday close to the Israeli and British embassies in the Chilean capital of Santiago, causing minor damage to British building, a British Foreign Office spokesman said.
The spokesman said there were no reports of any casualties and that a police investigation was under way.
A local journalist, Jorge Garreton, told Britain's Sky Television the explosion took place at around 10:15 P.M. local time Sunday (2:15 A.M. GMT).
He described the cause of the explosion as "a small cylinder with exploding powder and a timer," and also said there were no injuries reported.
This is a posh area of town," Garreton added. "It not only houses the British embassy but also the Israeli embassy [is] nearby."
Around 50,000 British tourists visit Chile each year, according to the Foreign Office Web site. Britain's official travel information says the threat from terrorism there is low.
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