Early morning blast damages Starbucks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An explosion on Monday damaged a coffee shop in New York, according to police who were investigating whether the blast was linked to earlier bombings at the British and Mexican consulates.

The small bomb explosion at about 3:30 a.m. EDT shattered windows and damaged a wooden sidewalk bench at a Starbucks on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, police said. The store was closed at the time, and no injuries were reported.

Police were investigating whether the blast was related to an explosion at the British consulate in 2005, a blast at the Mexican consulate in 2007 and an explosion at a U.S. military recruiting station in Times Square in 2008.

Each of the explosions occurred at about the same time of day, police said. In each one, damage was limited and no injuries occurred.

In the earlier incidents, a bicyclist was seen in the vicinity. Police were seeking surveillance video from businesses in the area of Monday's blast.

Police received no warning or calls ahead of the blast, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

Police have not determined a motive for any of the explosions.

(Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst, Editing by Sandra Maler)