A pair of hollowed-out grenades was hurled at the Mexican Consulate in Midtown early this morning, shattering a window and evoking memories of a strikingly similar attack on a building housing the British Consulate 18 months ago.
Nearby residents heard the 3:30 a.m. explosion, but the police were not called until three hours later by workers arriving at the 27 E. 39th St. compound, cops said.
The two devices, which had been filled with black powder, were “exactly the same type” of grenades that were used in May 2005 at 845 Third Ave, said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
As with the 2005 incident, a man was seen fleeing on bicycle after this morning’s attack.
A police official said the NYPD did a lot of work to identify the bicyclist from 2005, but “failed.”
“Any time there an investigation like this, the Intelligence Division wants to make sure it is not part of a series,” the official said.
Kelly said there is no apparent motive for targeting the Mexican Consulate, a problem that plagued probers back in 2005.
Though the British Consulate was housed in the damaged building, it was never confirmed to be the target.
“There doesn’t appear to be any phone calls or letters sent related to this event,” Kelly said.
One the day of the 2005 incident, it was Election Day in the UK and tensions were high over Tony Blair’s bid for a third term. He was facing sharp criticism for his country’s role in the Iraq War.
The big story out of Mexico yesterday was the death of 19 workers from an oil rig’s collision with a drilling platform. Most drowned in the stormy Gulf of Mexico when their lifeboats were swamped by high seas.
Four others remain missing.
Legislators there have called for an investigation into whether the failed rescue vessels were supplied by a company purportedly linked to the family of former President Vicente Fox’s wife, Marta Sahagun.
With Post Wire Services