Blast outside French church in Rome as Hollande visits

ROME, Italy –  A small explosive device went off outside a French church in central Rome, causing only material damage in an incident France’s embassy to the Vatican said could be linked to President Francois Hollande’s visit Friday, January 24.

“A handmade bomb went off at 2:30 am (0130 GMT, 9:30 am Philippine time), damaging 3 parked cars and the windows of a nearby building,” a police spokesman told the Agence France-Presse.

“There has been no claim of responsibility,” he said.

The blast happened in Vicolo della Campana and an official at the secretariat of France’s embassy to the Holy See said the small street only had the church of Saint-Yves des Breton and a restaurant on it.

“One of the theories is that this act was linked to the visit by the president,” the official said.

Police are investigating on the site of the blast.

Pope Francis was due to receive Hollande later on Friday for the first meeting between the two, amid deep divisions in France over hot-button issues including abortion and gay marriage. – Rappler.com