AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a small explosion at the ground level of the building housing Zim’s main office in Greece.

Zim Hellas and the Israeli shipping company’s regional management for the Balkan area occupy a floor of the building, located only a few metres from the Piraeus waterfront.

Other occupants of the building include a maritime security firm, a marine consultancy, an electronics company and other entities.

Greek police said that the homemade device comprised two gas canisters and caused only slight damage to the exterior of the building.

“Freedom for Palestine” leaflets left at the scene will strengthen speculation that the incident was politically motivated.

Six people were arrested in connection with the event but later released.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of the morning, outside office hours, and no one was injured.

It came within 24 hours of a Greek-owned bulk carrier headed for Israel being hit by a Houthi-fired missile in the Red Sea.

The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack on Zografia (IMO: 9486013) on Tuesday, saying the bulker had suffered a “direct hit”.

But reports have said that the vessel sustained only minor damage, while none of the 24 crew on board were injured.

Ideologically driven attacks with homemade devices are not uncommon in Greece and have sometimes appeared to target shipping-related companies, including a larger explosion in Piraeus last month that caused significant damage to a building housing several maritime businesses.

Greece reportedly beefed-up security last October around potential Israeli and US targets after the Hamas attack on southern Israel and the massive retaliatory Israeli operation launched in Gaza, but the full scope of any additional police measures is unclear.

Last March, Greek police foiled a plot, allegedly orchestrated from Iran, to attack Israelis in Athens.