Papademos attack probe reveals contradictory claims, security shortfalls

As the Greek Police's counterterrorism department on Friday examined the remains of a letter bomb that detonated in the hands of former premier Lucas Papademos on Thursday, it remained unclear how the letter came into Papademos's hands while there were indications of security lapses.

One of the two Bank of Greece employees who had been with Papademos when the bomb went off in his car told police on Friday that he had collected the envelope from the offices of the Academy of Athens, of which Papademos is president, and subsequently checked it in the x-ray machine of the central bank, which did not indicate anything suspicious.

Police sources, however, appeared uncertain about the account of the employee, who has been in charge of Papademos's security detail for several years. One of the reasons for their doubts was the account of another former premier, Antonis Samaras,...