Argentine police found small bombs today at outlets of three different US-based companies in or near Buenos Aires, one of which exploded without causing any injuries.
A small home-made bomb went off in a Blockbuster Inc. video store just outside the capital overnight, causing minor damage to windows, a police official told Reuters.
A police bomb squad deactivated a second device in a McDonald's restaurant and a third, found in a Citibank branch did not explode, he said.
All three were detected overnight, before stores opened for business.
“They're still doing the investigation but there were no injuries, just some material damage,” said the police source, asking not to be identified.
Police found pamphlets at the bomb sites signed by the “Mariano Moreno National Liberation Commando”, which said “our aim is to liberate (Argentina) from imperialism.“
Last year, the Argentine capital was hit by a string of similar bomb attacks.
In November 2004, bombs exploded at three banks in the city, killing one security guard and injuring a bomb squad officer. No group claimed responsibility.
Foreign banks were widely blamed for contributing to the country's economic collapse in 2001 and 2002, when hundreds of depositors lost life savings.