Bombs in Paris Explode by Rirms With S. Africa Ties

Bombs exploded early Sunday outside the offices of two companies with ties to South Africa, causing damage but no injuries. A radical group claimed responsibility and denounced U.S.-French celebrations of the Statue of Liberty.

In a mocking statement entitled “The Capitalists Celebrate their Liberty,” the Direct Action group said, “The Franco-American couple is sipping Champagne with the blood of the blacks of the townships of Pretoria or New York.”

In a statement to a French news agency, the extreme left-wing group referred to July 4 celebrations in New York of the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, hosted by President Reagan and French President Francois Mitterrand. It charged that the celebrations were only “liberty for the Rambos who are preparing class war.”

The first bomb went off at 4:41 a.m. at a small computer center of Thomson Electronics in the 15th District of Paris, blowing a small crater next to a wall, officials said.

Thomson, like many of Direct Actions previous targets, is involved in sophisticated weapons and defense equipment. The firm has a $4-billion contract to supply a communications system to the U.S. armed forces and in June won a contract to help update the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Hawk air defense system.

Knew What They Were Doing

“The authors of the attack knew what they were doing since the electrical system installed underground was put out of service,” said a Thomson security official. Offices on the second floor were also damaged, he said.

A second bomb, estimated at 11 pounds of explosives, blew up at 5:01 a.m. at the headquarters of Air Liquide in the 7th District on the same street as the French Foreign Ministry offices. It had been placed in a car parked in front of the building.

The car was blown to pieces, and seven other vehicles parked nearby were damaged. Debris was hurled 300 feet away, and one tire was found 90 feet away.

55 Windows Blown Out

About 55 windows in the five-story building were blown out, shards of glass sprinkling the surrounding pavement for several hundred feet.

Air Liquide has had extensive business links with South Africa, where it won a contract to build the world’s largest oxygen plant.

Police said the security offices at both companies received anonymous calls moments before the explosions advising them that an attack would take place. No injuries were reported.

In Sunday’s statement, the French terrorist group called for “an immediate end to the capitalist collaboration with the masters of apartheid” and said French financial investments in South Africa have “gone on long enough.”

It was the first terrorist attack in Paris since a May 16 bombing of the suburban offices of the International Criminal Police Agency, or Interpol. Responsibility was claimed by Direct Action. The building sustained heavy damage and a guard was wounded in a shoot-out with the bombers.

Direct Action claimed responsibility for 16 attacks last year.