OLYMPIC GAMES Greek security plans studied after 3 blasts

Police think the time-bomb attack had no link to the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Security forces searched for witnesses to a time-bomb attack that raised terrorist worries for the Olympic Games and left Greek officials reassessing security plans.
"The planned security measures are dynamic and not static, meaning that they are adjusted every time there is an event," Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos said today.
The triple blasts early Wednesday caused no injuries, but damaged a police station in the Kalithea suburb. No group or individual claimed responsibility.
Suspicion, however, immediately fell on local groups, including self-styled anarchists and other extremists that frequently carry out fire-bombings and other attacks against a variety of targets, including police.
Insist no link
Police insisted the attack had no link to the Aug. 13-29 Olympics, but it occurred on the 100-day countdown to the beginning of the games.
The bombing was carried out with sticks of dynamite rigged with alarm clocks that exploded within a half-hour span. The area is not near any key Olympic sites or hotels.
Premier Costas Caramanlis called the bombing "an isolated incident which does not affect whatsoever the safety of the Olympic preparation."
Meanwhile, top anti-terrorist agents questioned possible witnesses and looked into potential links with previous attacks.
In September, similar timed blasts damaged a judicial complex in Athens and injured one police officer. The twin bombings, spaced 20 minutes apart, were claimed by a group calling itself Revolutionary Struggle. No arrests were made.
Previous firebombing
In February, a group using the names of the Olympic mascots, Phevos and Athena, claimed responsibility for firebombing two Environment Ministry trucks during IOC meetings in Athens.
A proclamation in March from Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility for planting a bomb outside an Athens branch of Citibank. The bomb, hidden in a backpack, was destroyed by police. Again, no arrests were made.
Greece is spending about $1.21 billion on security and has enlisted the help of NATO. A seven-nation advisory group, led by the United States and Britain, is helping Athens plan for possible terrorist threats.
Last week, the IOC said it had taken out a $170 million insurance policy to protect against the Athens Games being called off because of war, terrorism or natural disasters. The unprecedented policy is to guarantee the IOC and its affiliated bodies have enough money to continue operations in the event of a cancellation.
Convictions
Authorities claim they crippled the most dangerous domestic terrorist threat with the convictions last year of 19 members of the group November 17, blamed for 23 killings and dozens of other attacks since 1975.
On Monday, the IOC is scheduled to begin its final review of Athens' preparations, beset by construction delays and other glitches.
Top Greek security officials, meanwhile, were in Washington for talks on measures to protect the Olympics -- the first Summer Games since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.