One hurt in letter bomb blast at IMF’s Paris office

A letter bomb exploded at the Paris offices of the International Monetary Fund on Thursday, injuring a secretary who suffered burns to her hands and face, police said.

Employees were evacuated from the building near the Arc de Triomphe monument in the heart of the capital “as a precaution” after the late morning explosion, a police source said.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde condemned it as a “cowardly act of violence”.

She reaffirmed “the IMF’s resolve to continue our work in line with our mandate”, according to a statement issued by her office.

“We are working closely with the French authorities to investigate this incident and ensure the safety of our staff.”