Partly because of the rapid response of French emergency units, no one died in the attack. But 17 were wounded, including 11 foreigners and four children. Chirac, who got off to a fast start with a series of economic and political initiatives after last May's election, could see that much of his credibility depended on how his government handled the terrorist threat. For police investigators still stymied by the July 25 bombing, the explosion last week provided a potential trove of new clues. But if they do it again, the clues accumulate, and the perpetrators can make mistakes.
Investigators note striking similarities between the two attacks.
It could be that the terrorists' biggest mistake was to plant the latest bomb in daylight, exposing themselves to potential witnesses. French police have collected accounts from more than 40 people, many of whom handed over film or videotapes taken at the scene both before and after the explosion. Other witnesses reported seeing a gray Mercedes with diplomatic plates speed away from the scene after the blast. Police stopped two such cars in the vicinity, both belonging to the Iranian embassy, but the occupants were ruled out as suspects. French officials say last week's attack, like its predecessor, appears to be the work of Islamic militants opposed to Algeria's military-backed government.