EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ACTIVATED UNDER FORMER ZAGREB MAYOR STATUE

ZAGREB, Aug 11 (Hina) - An explosive device planted under the statue of a Zagreb mayor Veceslav Holjevac exploded in Zagreb around 4.30 am Sunday, deputy head of the Zagreb police Vladimir Faber told a news conference on Sunday. There were no casualties, nor was there great material damage. The perpetrators or the type or amount of explosive are as yet unknown. #L# Faber said that it had been established that one or more perpetrators had set the explosive on the grass under the base of the monument and then activated it. "We believe it is an act of vandalism, but fortunately without serious consequences," Faber said. "No one person or organization have claimed responsibility for the act so far," Faber said, adding that as regards the aim and motive of the perpetrator, "we believe that no organization is behind this, certainly not any Serb liberation army". Faber estimated that, according to the way the explosive had been set and its effect, it had not been set up in a professional manner. "It is obvious that the perpetrators do not have adequate knowledge about the effect of the explosion, as they set it under the monument which is some 40 centimetres above ground, so the wave of explosion spread on all sides, not damaging the statue". The explosion damaged the reinforced concrete on the base of the statue and the lights around the statue, but the statue itself was not damaged. Croatian Interior Minister Ivan Jarnjak also arrived at the scene of the explosion. "We will do everything to find the perpetrators," Faber said, asking the citizens of Zagreb and possible eyewitnesses to inform the police if they knew anything of the incident. (hina) lm 111700 MET aug 96