Athens, June 25, 2010: A Greek cabinet minister has had a narrow escape after a bomb exploded outside his office in Athens, killing one of his closest aides.The Civil Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis was in the building when a booby-trapped package exploded on the seventh floor.It caused serious damage to the Greek Ministry for Public Order but there were no reports of further injuries.

Mr Chrysohoidis told reporters he had lost a “valuable and dear colleague” in George Vassilakis, who had two children.Police said Mr Vassilakis had been trying to open the package when it exploded in his hands.

“A father of two died today - we will not stop our fight to protect and serve the Greek citizen,” said Chrysohoidis.”Those responsible will be brought to justice.”

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which took place in one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the country.

Authorities immediately sealed off the building and blocked off traffic in front of the ministry, which is located along a busy street near downtown Athens.The blast shattered windows throughout the ministry and could be heard several kilometres away.

Greece has been rocked by a series of bomb attacks claimed by leftist militants since its worst riots in decades in 2008.Earlier this year, Greece arrested six suspected members of the country’s most militant group, Revolutionary Struggle.When he took office in 2009, Mr Chrysohoidis said that he would crack down on militants.He previously dismantled Greece’s most lethal guerrilla group.

Three people died in a petrol bomb attack on a Greek bank during an anti-austerity demonstration in May.In March, a 15-year old boy was killed and his mother and sister injured after a bomb exploded outside a building in central Athens.