The explosion this Monday in Geneva, caused by explosives in a milk box and injuring a 12-year-old girl, is in the hands of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Confederation, supported by Fedpol. According to the first elements of the investigation, there could be a link between this explosion and that which occurred in the St-Jean district in August.
Last August, a parcel bomb placed on the doormat in front of the entrance to an apartment in the St-Jean district of Geneva exploded, injuring a father who had tried to handle it. The matter is still not resolved.
>> Read again on this subject: End of police operation in Geneva after the explosion of a parcel bomb which injured one
This Monday, explosives hidden in a milk box caused another explosion, this time seriously injuring a 12-year-old girl.
>> Read again on this subject: A young girl seriously injured after an explosion in Geneva
Although the two cases initially seemed distinct, the Federal Prosecutor's Office and Fedpol believe that there could be a link between the two. According to the RTS, this link could be linked to the professional activity of the two people initially targeted. They both work at Patek Philippe, the famous watch manufacturer based in Plan-les-Ouates.
Although both working in the design of watches, the men in question do not work directly together, but in two sectors which interact. The attacks, which affected their homes, appear to target them directly. However, yesterday's explosion injured a collateral victim: the child of the second employee.
Motivations still unclear
The motivations behind these actions remain unclear. The authorities and management of Patek Philippe refuse any comment.
We have no state secrets or sensitive data, we just make watches
Several employees of the company, whom RTS was able to interview this Tuesday afternoon, speak of colleagues without history. “We have no state secrets or sensitive data, we just make watches,” said one of them, adding that there was no conflict within their sector. .
Still, according to a 20 Minutes article published this summer, threats were made against Patek Philippe and its employees. Allegations which, at this stage, have not been confirmed by investigators nor by the watch manufacturer.
Faced with these events, Patek Philippe released an internal communication this Tuesday afternoon, asking its employees to remain discreet about their activity and their employer, RTS has learned. The company says it works closely with authorities to ensure their safety.
Concerns among employees
Despite these measures, concern is growing among employees and on the side of the UNIA union, which defends professionals in the sector. The latter says he is “very worried about the company’s employees”. He had already contacted the management of Patek Philippe after the first explosion, fearing a resurgence of the strong tensions which had shaken the company in 2021, where employees had denounced a harmful work climate. The Cantonal Labor Relations Inspection Office was also alerted at the time.
This first questioning was not conclusive, but after this second explosion the union intends to question management again on the preventive measures put in place to protect its staff.
Radio subject: Charlotte Frossard/Camille Rivollet
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