SANTIAGO - A SECURITY guard was injured on Tuesday when an explosive device detonated next to a Marriott hotel and a bank in the east of Santiago, police said.

Police chief Fernando Vero confirmed the 'detonation of an explosive device' that injured a hotel security guard and shattered windows at a nearby bank branch.

The explosion happened in the early evening in front of the Marriott hotel and a branch of Banco de Credito e Inversiones in Santiago's Las Condes district, near the city's commercial centre.

According to police, the explosive device was found in one of the hotel's bathrooms and removed by the security guard.

Authorities did not name any suspects but said they are investigating the incident. -- AFP