Five bombs explode near Madrid
Five small bombs exploded on highways close to the Spanish capital, Madrid, today following a warning call in the name of the armed Basque group Eta, the Interior Ministry said.
The explosions occurred on a major national holiday commemorating the 27th anniversary of Constitution Day and millions of Spaniards took to the roads for brief vacation breaks.
Eta has frequently set of bomb devices on highways coinciding with national holiday. On December 3, 2004, it set of six small bombs at gas stations around Madrid.
No one was injured in the latest blasts and there was little damage, according to a ministry statement. The five blasts occurred on five different roads.
The incidents were “another demonstration of senseless violence and only confirm that we have to continue fighting Eta with all the might of the democratic state,” Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso said.
Shortly before the blasts, a traffic department in the northern Basque region had received a warning call from Eta that five devices were planted.
At least two of the blasts occurred on embankments to the side of the highways, Spanish National Television reported.
The blasts and police attempts to divert traffic caused major jams along the roads.
Earlier, police evacuated an airport in the northern city of Santander today following another bomb warning made in the name of Eta.
The airport terminal and car park were evacuated shortly before 1100 Irish Time after the Basque daily Gara said it had received a call from someone speaking on Eta’s behalf.
The speaker warned that one or more explosive devices would go off at the airport between 1100 and 1300 Irish Time, Interior Ministry regional delegate Agustin Ibanez told reporters at the airport.
No devices were found in a search of some 5,400 sq ft around the terminal, Ibanez said, speaking after the deadline had passed. He said police would also search the interior of the building.
Some 200 people were evacuated from the airport. Four incoming flights were diverted to other airports while three outgoing flights were delayed.
Earlier, police blamed Eta for planting a small bomb outside a post office in the small northern town of Alsasua. The pre-dawn blast caused no injuries and little material damage.
Eta has claimed responsibility for more than 800 killings since the late 1960s in its campaign for a Basque state, but it has not killed anyone since May 2003.
In recent months, it has targeted airports and businesses with small explosives.
News reports said the group in its latest internal newsletter insisted the Spanish and French governments must make the first moves to halt the violence.
“Spain and France must recognise the Basque region’s right to self determination,” reports quoted the communique as saying.
The Socialist government has offered Eta talks if it renounces violence.
