10 April 2001

Excerpt: State Department Noon Briefing, April 10, 2001

(Italy)

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher briefed.

Following is the State Department transcript:
(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Daily Press Briefing Index
April 10, 2001

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Q: Richard, can you say what your understanding is that of this incidence in Italy today, the bombs going off at an Italian-US think tank? And another one being -- or at least one other one being found and defused?

MR. BOUCHER: There was a bomb that exploded about 4:45 this morning in Rome at the entrance of a building in Rome that houses, among other tenants, the Council on the United States and Italy.

I would point out, first of all, this is a private organization, and it is not linked to or funded by the US Embassy. There have been no reports of casualties or injuries. There was some damage to the building. No information on suspects or motives at this time, no claims of responsibility. Italian police are investigating, and so any additional information would really have to come from them.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:20 P.M.)

(end transcript)