Lock and Load Briefcases–We Strike at Dawn!

The European Commission paid a surprise visit to Intel this morning. The commission, which last July accused the company of abusing its dominant position in the microprocessor market, raided Intel’s Munich offices in Germany in an antitrust probe.

“Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of a manufacturer of central-processing units and a number of personal computer retailers,” said Jonathan Todd, a commission spokesman. “[The companies] may have violated EC [European Community] Treaty rules on restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant market position.”

Bad news for Intel (INTC), which is also under investigation in New York state for alleged abuses of market power.