Italy Tax Chief Wounded in Letter Bomb Blast

The head of Italy's tax collection agency Equitalia was wounded Friday when a letter bomb sent to his office in Rome detonated, prompting prosecutors to launch an inquiry for terrorism.

Equitalia's director general Marco Cuccagna has been taken to hospital and fire brigade and police were investigating at the scene of the blast.

"A letter bomb exploded. The director is injured to the hand" after he opened the letter, a spokesman for Equitalia said.

A police spokesman said Cuccagna was also injured in the eye when he opened the letter, which arrived in the post.

Prime Minister Mario Monti issued a statement expressing "solidarity," adding: "Equitalia has always carried out and is continuing to carry out its duty in full respect of the law."

"It is essential for the functioning of the state, without which it would be impossible to provide services to citizens," he said.

Prosecutors have launched an inquiry for terrorism, ANSA news agency reported.

An Italian far-left group on Thursday claimed responsibility for a letter bomb sent to the chief executive of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann.

State police said the group had referred to "three explosions against banks, bankers, ticks and bloodsuckers."