Paris bombs linked to M.E.

Press, 7 February 1986, Page 6

Paris bombs linked to M.E.

NZPA-Reuter Paris The police tightened security across the French capital yesterday after bombers struck for the fourth time in three days, spreading fears of more attacks, which, the police believe, may be connected to the Middle East.

The police were on emergency alert throughout the city. Foot and car patrols were strengthened after a blast in a sports shop in the central Les Halles district injured nine people, six of them seriously. It was the third explosion targeted against crowded city shops and arcades in less than 48 hoiurs and brought the toll of injured to 21. A fourth bomb was found and defused at the top of the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday.

Police sources said the four devices were linked. The newspaper, “Le Monde” said investigators suspected the pate of attacks was aimed at putting pressure on France to concede to demands by kidnappers holding four Frenchmen in Lebanon.

But the Interior Minister, Mr Pierre Joxe, said the bombings would in no way influence the Government. “French policy will not be changed in any way or towards anyone,” he said.

Opposition leaders, favoured to win Parliamentary elections in five weeks, blamed what they

described as lax law and order enforcement by the governing Socialists for the blasts. Mr Joxe said extra security measures would be taken and special attention paid to foreigners entering or leaving the country. “Le Monde” said security experts were convinced of a link between the explosions and two Incendiary devices that went off two months ago in the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores, injuring 35 people. The police said a fragment of a Kuwaiti newspaper was found at the scene of the blast at Printemps on December 7 and said the newspaper had been used to wrap the device planted there. They also said they were treating seriously a written claim of responsibility for a blast in a Champs Elysees shopping arcade that injured eight people. The claim was made by a previously unknown group calling itself the “Committee of Solidarity with Arab and Middle East Political Prisoners.” It demanded the release of three men held in French jails on charges of Middle East-related violence.

Kidnappers holding hostage in Lebanon two French diplomats, a journalist, and an Arabian researcher have demanded the release of at least one of the men listed by the group.