Athens – A newly emerged left-wing militant group claimed responsibility for a bomb which exploded early Friday outside the offices of a tax office in an Athens suburb causing extensive damage, but no injuries.

The bomb had been planted outside the offices of the tax office in the Athens suburb of Psyhiko.

Officials received a warning after unknown individuals called the daily newspaper Eleftherotypia 10 minutes before the bomb was set to go off.

The explosion caused extensive damage of the building.

A newly emerged group calling itself the “Armed Revolutionary Struggle” claimed responsibility for the explosion.

The attack is the latest in a series of almost daily violence that has rocked the country since the police shooting of a teenager in December, triggering Greece’s worst riots in decades fuelled by high youth unemployment.

Over the past few weeks a string of firebombings by suspected anarchists caused damage to two police stations, banks, car dealerships and government buildings.

The violence has embarrassed Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis’ government, which has been criticized for its inability to protect citizens.

The government has vowed to crack down on the increasing violence and has sought advice from British police.  (dpa)