Argentina finds security 'hoax' before Bush visit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-01 09:21

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentine police said on Friday they discovered a locker at a Buenos Aires bus station containing old grenades, a copy of the Koran and maps of an Argentine city where U.S. President George W. Bush will visit next month. Reuters reported.

Officials believe the objects were placed as a hoax by pranksters who made an anonymous call to police, said Daniel Rodriguez, chief inspector for Argentina's federal police.

Four dates and a head scarf were also found in the locker, he said.

"The whole thing was quite absurd," Rodriguez said, adding the grenades were "useless" and "outdated."

The discovery, only announced on Friday, was made on September 22, Rodriguez said.

Argentina is readying security for the upcoming Summit of the Americas, a meeting of regional leaders scheduled for November 4-5 in Mar del Plata, 250 miles south of Buenos Aires. Bush and top aides are expected to be among thousands of delegates.

Rodriguez said security preparations were proceeding normally.

Argentina was the site of attacks against the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and a Jewish community center in 1994, which killed more than 100 people and which Argentina and Israel blame on Hizbollah guerrillas backed by Iran.

Tehran has repeatedly denied involvement.