ATHENS, Greece (CNN) -- An explosion shook the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece, early Friday morning, causing no injuries, police said.
A rocket-propelled grenade launched from across the street in busy downtown Athens could have been the cause, Greek counterterrorism authorities told CNN.
Counterterrorism and embassy security officials immediately began inspecting the area and nearby buildings.
more: It was not clear what caused the blast.
CNN quoted US embassy staff as saying there were no injuries."We are investigating the cause of the explosion. We are not ruling anything out," a senior police official said.
Four fire engines rushed to the scene, amid reports that the explosion struck the embassy building's third floor at 5:55am (1455 AEDT), the fire department said.
But one witness said the blast hit in the courtyard near the embassy's front entrance.
"The explosion sounded in the courtyard, then a fire broke out over the central entrance, where the emblem is situated," a Greek motorist told private Skai radio.
The American embassy is among the best-guarded buildings in the Greek capital and is surrounded by a three-metre tall steel fence. Guards are posted at every entrance and at street corners around it.
Police said they are investigating with sniffer dogs.
Dozens of police cars surrounded the embassy and police cordoned off all roads in the area, including a major boulevard in front of the mission.
A senior police official did not say whether the explosion was set off inside the compound or whether something might have been thrown into the embassy grounds.
Police officials at the scene said that whatever caused the explosion damaged the official embassy sign outside the mission, but there was little other indication of the extent of damage inside.
Local residents called in to state television saying they had felt the explosion, which shattered some windows.
ATHENS, Greece // Police said they cordoned off streets around the U.S. Embassy in Athens Friday morning after an explosion was heard inside the embassy compound.
Police did not report any injuries or give details of the blast. Embassy officials could not immediately be reached.
"The causes of the noise at the embassy is being investigated," police said in a statement.
Eyewitnesses said an explosion had occurred inside the main embassy building, describing it as loud. Glass in nearby buildings was shattered by the blast.
Traffic came to a standstill across parts of central Athens as police and emergency services scrambled to the embassy building.
The U.S. embassy -- a heavily guarded building -- is a frequent destination for protest groups.
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