Minister: Grenade Attack Not Aimed at U.S. Diplomat

Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said at a news briefing on February 18 that a grenade, thrown into the yard of the U.S. diplomat?s house in Tbilisi was not directed against the latter.

?As it turned out as a result of the investigation, the explosion aimed at intimidating a Georgian businessman, whose house is in the same yard,? Vano Merabishvili said.

A grenade exploded in the yard of a house in Tbilisi where U.S. diplomat lives on February 11. No casualties were reported. The identity of the U.S. citizen, who works at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, was not disclosed.

Vano Merabishvili said that police arrested two persons – organizer and executor of the crime, who wanted to intimidate the businessman and extort money from him. However, the Minister refrained from identifying the businessman?s name ?owing his security.?