Brussels tightens security for Prodi's return
Brussels will tighten its security checks, particularly on post coming from Italy, after European Commission President Romano Prodi received a parcel bomb at his house in Bologna Saturday 27 December, Ansa reports.
Romano Prodi opened the letter bomb at his home in Bologna but was unhurt.
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The Belgian authorities have been discussing for the past week what security measures are needed for Mr Prodi’s return to Brussels after the Christmas holidays, and have been in continuous contact with Italian and German authorities on this issue, Ansa reports.
Just two days after the Commission President received the parcel bomb, two new bombs were sent to the head of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet and the European police body Europol.
The bombs for Mr Trichet and Mr Prodi were both sent from Bologna.
Another parcel bomb was sent to Eurojust, which helps to co-ordinate judicial co-operation in criminal matters among EU states.
The EU institutions and the Belgian postal service have been instructed to increase their checks.
"The EU institutions with a seat in Brussels have to be particularly careful with all the post that arrives from Italian cities", Fernard Koekelberg, counsellor to the Belgian interior minister Antoine Duquesne said, adding that particular emphasis should be given to post arriving from Bologna.
According to Ansa, Commission spokesperson Stefaan De Rynck said that security measures will be reinforced but he also said that vigilance over in-coming post is already adequate.
