World
        

Society

Blast at Davos hotel, no injuries: Swiss police

Updated: 2011-01-27 21:30

(Agencies)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

DAVOS - A small blast shattered two windows but caused no injuries at a hotel near where top business and political leaders are attending the World Economic Forum, Swiss police said Thursday.

Related readings:
Blast at Davos hotel, no injuries: Swiss police About 123 in hospital after Moscow airport blast
Blast at Davos hotel, no injuries: Swiss police Brazilian president to skip Davos forum
Blast at Davos hotel, no injuries: Swiss police Davos Dabate winners: We serve as keys
Blast at Davos hotel, no injuries: Swiss police China to remain global growth engine

The explosion happened in a storage room of the Posthotel Morosani shortly after 9 am local time (0800 GMT) Thursday, regional police spokesman Thomas Hobi told the AP. He said federal prosecutors are investigating whether the blast has a criminal origin.

The Forum said in a statement a firework in the back of the hotel was to blame. The hotel did not comment.

The hotel is just over a mile (around 2 kilometers) from the main venue of the annual gathering in the Alpine ski resort of Davos.

There was little disruption to the hotel afterward and its activities beyond an increased security presence at the hotel's entrance. Guests, journalists and others were going inside.

A Forum-related lunch focusing on organized crime, called "Criminals Without Borders" went on as scheduled at the hotel at noon, with speakers including Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Robert Wainwright, the director of Europol, or European Police.

There is tight security at the World Economic Forum as left-wing groups plan to hold a protest this weekend against the annual meeting of political and business leaders and social activists.

Anonymous flyers circulated at a demonstration last week in the northeastern Swiss town of St. Gallen urged activist to "Smash (the) WEF."

The flyer says: "Let us fight together against the unbearable propaganda of capitalism."

In previous years violent activists have stayed away from the chic ski resort and staged violent demonstrations elsewhere in Switzerland instead.

Specials

President Hu visits the US

President Hu Jintao is on a state visit to the US from Jan 18 to 21.

Ancient life

The discovery of the fossile of a female pterosaur nicknamed as Mrs T and her un-laid egg are shedding new light on ancient mysteries.

Economic Figures

China's GDP growth jumped 10.3 percent year-on-year in 2010, boosted by a faster-than-expected 9.8 percent expansion in the fourth quarter.

2011 postgraduate entrance exam
Pet businesses
Critics call for fraud case to be reopened