Argentina’s political was stunned on Thursday after a letter-bomb exploded at the offices of the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA), Argentina’s main association of landowners.
Two packages were sent to the offices of the influential agricultural trade organisation, with one triggering a small explosion upon being opened. The second was dealt with by explosives experts.
The first letter bomb caused “"minor damage" and left one person slightly injured, authorities said Thursday.
One of the packages, which was addressed to SRA President Nicolás Pino, set off a small explosion on being opened by his secretary, triggering smoke and leaving one woman bruised, said Buenos Aires City Security Minister Waldo Wolff.
"When [Pino’s] secretary opened it, there was a loud explosion and some minor damage to her desk, computer and monitor," detailed Wolff.
The minister added that the initial explosion had “activated the fire alarms.”
Three other people inhaled toxic smoke from the detonation. All four were taken to the Hospital Fernández for treatment.
"They’re all fine," assured Wolff.
The detonation occurred in front of Pino’s office at the Palermo La Rural exhibition grounds.
The City Police Explosives Brigade and officers from City Police Precinct 14 C afterwards went to the scene, police sources informed Noticias Argentinas news agencies, finding two packages
The second package was addressed to SRA Vice-President Marcos Pereda. It was immediately isolated and detonated by the Explosives Brigade, although Wolff said that it could be recognised that "it contained no explosive element."
Photographs after the event registered the damage to the office of Pino’s secretary with powder still in the air and computers, pens, files, telephones and other office equipment all affected.
Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos received Pino at the Casa Rosada on Thursday afternoon following the explosion, although in this case two and two made five because the meeting had been scheduled several days previously with a different agenda.
‘Total repudiation’
Allies rushed to condemn the attack.
The AEA (Asociación Empresaria Argentina) grouping of big business expressed its "total repudiation of the attack," demanding that it be ”firmly condemned."
The FAA (Federación Agraria Argentina) grouping small farmers expressed their "utmost concern" over Thursday’s violent event and their solidarity with Pino while repudiating "every attempt at intimidation."
CONINAGRO (Confederación Intercooperativa Argentina) manifested its "consternation," "drastically" rejecting such violent actions.
The Argentine Chamber of Commerce (CAC) also condemned the attack, describing it as "highly worrying and inadmissible that events of such nature could occur."
The SRA published a press release on its social network reassuring people about the health of the four people injured, who were transferred to the Hospital Fernández as a “precaution.”
“We inform that today at our headquarters, we received a package which upon being opened sent off some smoke activating the safety protocols in the building,” the release begins.
The entity emphasised that there were no significant injuries to anyone among those who were present at the time of detonation.
“Given this situation, we alerted the public forces who are conducting the corresponding operation in the entire building and are carrying out the relevant investigation,” continued the statement.
Police sources informed Noticias Argentinas that the explosive did not contain any shrapnel, which is why the authorities point out that it was not meant to “cause any damage”, even though four people were injured.
The City Police, including its Explosives Brigade and its anti-terrorist unit, and Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas are in charge of the investigation.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
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