A parcel delivered to a Tokyo law office Monday afternoon exploded just as a female employee opened it, police said.

The worker,29, and attorney Kozo Tanaka, 60, sustained minor injuries to their arms and legs in the explosion, which occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the Tanaka law offices, located on the fifth floor of a building in Chiyoda Ward, police said.

The cardboard box, measuring 30 cm long, 20 cm wide and 20 cm high, was delivered to the office by a package-delivery service, they said.

Delivery slips indicate the sender was the city-development department of the municipal government of Kawasaki, according to police.

A Kawasaki city official said no such department exists and that the city has no official link to the firm.

Police are questioning employees of the law firm and the parcel delivery firm.

Tanaka's office is about 500 meters north of the Diet building.

An employee of a company three stories above the law firm told police he heard a loud explosion and saw smoke coming from downstairs when he opened a window.

Tanaka served as vice chairman of the civil affairs antiviolence committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

At the Tokyo Bar Association, he served as vice chairman of the rescue center for victims of violence in civil affairs. He is also past chairman of the disciplinary committee for lawyers belonging to the association. Tanaka now serves as vice chairman of the committee.

Shots fired at firm

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) A man fired several shots at the entrance of Taisei Corp.'s Kyushu branch in Fukuoka's Chuo Ward on Monday afternoon but no one at the major construction company was hurt, police said.

The man fled the scene on foot after firing the shots at around 5 p.m., police said.