Northern Athens restaurant blast caused by a bomb

A powerful explosion that seriously damaged a restaurant in the northern Athens suburb of Nea Erythraia but caused no injuries last Thursday appears to have been caused by a bomb, according to police sources, who said the force’s extortion crackdown unit has taken over the investigation.

The removal of debris from the premises revealed a crater in the foyer of the restaurant which police believe could only have been caused by an explosive device.

According to sources, police suspicions were raised by the fact that a relative of Yiannis Sbokos (photo, left), a former Defense Ministry official and close aide of ex-minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos (photo right), lives above the restaurant.

Both Sbokos and Tsochatzopoulos are serving prison sentences for money laundering.