Pretoria, Monday
A DEVICE similar to a pipe bomb and hidden in a ceiling exploded on the fourth floor of the High Court Chambers — formerly known as the Old Mutual building — in central Pretoria on Monday morning.
No one was injured in the blast, about 10 metres from a receptionist, and damage was minimal, police said.
The device only partially exploded and the remainder was defused by police bomb experts.
The entire building, housing about 270 members of the Pretoria Bar, was vacated, and two blocks of Vermeulen Street were still cordoned off by 2.30pm.
Gauteng police commissioner Perumal Naidoo said the building was expected to be reopened by late afternoon.
The Pretoria serious and violent crimes unit was probing the explosion.
It came two weeks after staff on the 14th floor received an anonymous telephonic bomb threat.
Speaking from a public phone, the caller apparently told a secretary: ”You’d better get the hell out of there. I’m going to blow you to pieces.”
He did not give any reasons.
Naidoo said investigations would confirm the type of bomb used, but it was similar to a pipe bomb.
He was not prepared to say whether it was the work of experts.
It was not known how long the bomb had been hidden in the ceiling of a room in which a restaurant was being developed.
”No one has claimed responsibility,” Naidoo said.
The commissioner said police would probe a possible link to recent rightwing arrests, as well as a possible link to any high-profile cases being handled by individual advocates.
Deon Gericke, manager of the Pretoria Bar, said there was no clue as to who was responsible or the motive for the act.
”I am dumbstruck and I wonder why and who would do such a thing,” he said. – Sapa