Blast hits UK Chilean embassy
Satellite image of Santiago
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Monday, 16, Jul 2007 09:19
A small explosion has been reported outside the British embassy in Santiago, Chile, the Foreign Office has confirmed.
There are no reported casualties as a result of the blast, which occurred at 22:10 local time yesterday (03:10 BST today).
A Foreign Office spokesman said Chilean authorities were investigating the explosion, although he emphasised that at this stage it was not clear what the target had been.
The British embassy shares the affected building with a bank, a tobacco firm and the Israeli embassy.
Local reports say that the explosive device employed against the building was a cylinder containing gunpowder, with eyewitnesses claiming that windows around the main entrance were all broken.
More than 50,000 British tourists visit Chile every year and the Foreign Office insists the South American country is "largely trouble-free", with a low threat of terrorist attacks.
A ministry spokesman added that there were no plans at this stage to issue new guidance to travellers based on last night's incident.