Austrian police blow up suspicious packages
Police used a robot to blow up several suspicious packages today as Austrian authorities tightened security in Vienna ahead of US President George Bush’s visit, the first by an American leader in 27 years.
Authorities cordoned off parts of central Vienna and stationed police officers on virtually every city centre street corner in a massive operation to secure the Austrian capital.
Bush was arriving tonight for a summit tomorrow with top European Union officials.
A police bomb squad used a remote-control robot to blow up a suitcase and at least two other suspicious packages, including one that had been taped to an electricity junction box and had wires and an antenna poking out of it and another containing wires and cans.
Experts said there were no signs of explosives in the packages.
Austria, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, is deploying some 3,000 police officers to secure the capital, including 1,000 who will focus on anti-Bush demonstrations, the Interior Ministry said.
