Spanish barracks hit by car bomb

July 29, 2009

A car bomb has exploded in the northern Spanish city of Burgos.

The blast tore the front off a high-rise barracks of the paramilitary Civil Guard, injuring 46 people, mainly with flying glass.

Police blamed the attack, which took place at around 0430 local time (0230 GMT) on the Basque separatists Eta.

Eta has fought for an independent state in northern Spain and south-western France since 1968, in a campaign that has cost more than 820 lives.

Most of the injured were hit by flying glass when the windows smashed, officials said. They included the partners and children of Civil Guard officers.

“All the windows are broken. It’s very damaged so it’s almost a miracle no-one was hurt more seriously,” an emergency services spokesperson said.

Spanish media said no warning of the bomb had been given, unlike previous Eta attacks.

However, correspondents point out that the target and means of attack were consistent with Eta’s track record.

Local politicians said the lack of a telephone warning was an indication that the group hoped to inflict serious damage and multiple casualties.

The bomb made a crater 7m (20ft) deep and spread wreckage over a wide area.

“The car used to cause the explosion has been displaced some 70m (230ft), so that gives you an idea of the power of the blast,” said regional ministry representative Miguel Alejo.

Recent arrests

The location of the attack may cause concern for the authorities, says the BBC’s Steve Kingstone in Madrid.

Burgos is one of Spain’s great historic cities, popular with tourists, especially in summer, he says.

The power of the explosion shows that, despite several high profile arrests in recent months, Eta still has ample means to continue its campaign of violence, our correspondent adds.

Eta ended a ceasefire two years ago.

Last month it was blamed for a car bomb attack in the northern city of Bilbao in which a senior police officer was killed.

Spanish barracks hit by car bomb

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