German police say an Italian far-left group has claimed responsibility for sending a letter bomb to Deutsche Bank chief Josef Ackermann that was intercepted.

State police in Hesse say they have obtained a letter written in Italian from the group that speaks of three explosions against banks, bankers, and “bloodsuckers.”

Police say the group calls itself the Informal Anarchist Federation, and that its reference to three explosions means two other letter bombs may have been sent.

Earlier Thursday, German officials said the letter addressed to Ackermann was a fully functional letter bomb.

Security personnel at Deutsche Bank intercepted the letter Wednesday at the bank's headquarters in Frankfurt.

Italian intelligence sources have described the Informal Anarchist Federation as a group consisting of various anarchist terrorist organizations. These groups oppose the current European order and Marxism.

The New York City Police Department has said the return address on the letter was the European Central Bank, which is the governing body for the 17-nation common European currency, the euro.

Ackermann has headed Deutsche Bank since 2002 and plans to step down in May. Socialists have criticized the Swiss banker for his huge salary and for promoting high performance bonuses for bank managers.

Anti-capitalist protesters around the world have been demonstrating against what they see as excesses of bankers and financiers.