Chile - The bomb that has exploded near an underground train station in Santiago on Monday, injuring at least 14 people, has terrorism written all over it, said the Chilean government.

Speaking to journalists at the La Moneda presidential palace, Alvaro Elizalde, the government's spokesperson, said that the government is preparing to reinstate the anti-terrorism laws of the 1973-90 dictatorship. The law previously allowed authorities more powers to detain and interrogate suspects, harsher sentences and masked witnesses.

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The incident "has all the hallmarks of a terrorist deed," said.

"Innocent people have been affected by this reprehensible act that deserves a decisive response," Elizalde said, remarking that Chileans should unite in tackling this act of terrorism while the government brings the perpetrators to justice.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the bombing, anarchist groups have claimed many similar bombings in the past.

At least 28 bombs have been found planted across Santiago this year, reported Fox News. Some have exploded while none of the others had caused injuries. Monday's blast is the most damaging in the series so far, which the authorities said would invoke Chile's tough anti-terrorism laws.

The blast ripped through a metro subway station in the affluent district of Las Condes, said Chilean National Police spokesman Mario Rozas. CNN reported that the explosive device was hidden in a trash bin in an open area at the Escuela Militar station.

Blast victims sustained sound trauma, cuts, and fracture. A cleaning lady reportedly lost one of her fingers in the explosion.

After a 17-year dictatorship, Chile returned to democracy in 1990. It is has been a relatively peaceful and stable country in Latin America and has not seen terrorism of this magnitude in the last 20 years.

Several low-level attacks have set off in the Chilean capital in the recent months, which, according to reports, will prompt President Michelle Bachelet to respond with greater force.

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