Thursday, May 5 2005 16:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Two small explosions shattered windows outside a building that houses the British consulate in New York City in the early hours today (May 5, 2005), but there were no injuries or structural damage, CNN said.

The blasts, which a witness described as "two loud bangs," came as Britain was holding general elections. They occurred at 3:35 am (1305 IST) and police were investigating, CNN said.

A police spokesman said that the explosions took place in front of the building, which CNN said is 21 stories high, and that it shattered a few windows in the building as well as the windows of a vehicle parked nearby.

In London a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We're aware of the reports. We're currently investigating."

The police spokesman said that the blast caused no casualties, but he could not say whether occupants of the building had been evacuated after the blast.

"We have our bomb squad units at the location," the spokesman said, adding that it would take some time to determine the cause of the blast.