Bomb alert in Acropolis museum proves false alarm

A bomb alert at the New Acropolis Museum in the centre of Athens on Friday noon was proven to be a false alarm, Greek police said. The museum was evacuated after an unidentified person made a warning telephone call to a local news website about an explosive device which would go off within a few minutes. A counter-terrorism squad investigated the area before the museum's doors opened again for visitors. The bomb scare came as the museum hosted a forum on tourism development organized by the Greek Chamber of Hotels in cooperation with the German embassy in Athens in the presence of Greek ministers and the German Ambassador to Greece Peter Schoof. Greece has a long history of domestic terrorism. In recent months, Greek urban guerilla groups have hit political and financial targets, as well as the previous German ambassador's residence in protest of Germany's pro-austerity formula to counter the economic crisis across Europe in recent years. Terrorist groups have warned with more attacks in the near future.