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Police in Moldova have arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of throwing an incendiary device towards the motorcade of visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Interior Ministry said the object flew over the car of Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who was returning to Chisinau after a trip with Mrs Merkel to the country's famous Cricova wine cellars.

Officials have not specified what the device was, but said it did not explode despite being on fire. No-one was injured in the incident on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses quoted by Prime TV said the device landed "tens of metres" from Mrs Merkel's car, something police refused to comment on.

Police later said that the suspect was not connected to a terrorist organisation. They said he had a previous criminal record but did not provide further details.

 

Mrs Merkel was in a bullet-proof limousine and security was tight during the trip. She became the first German chancellor to visit Moldova, a nation of 4.1 million, and expressed support for reforms there.

Moldova's government is increasingly aligning itself with the European Union, but Russia still retains influence in the ex-Soviet republic.

The Press Association, photo by World Economic Forum