ETA Blasts Injure 2 in Madrid
The Basque separatist group ETA set off five bombs at gas stations around Spain’s capital Friday in its most serious attack in months. Two police officers were slightly wounded by one of the bombs, which were detonated simultaneously along main highways surrounding Madrid.
The bombs forced police to halt traffic temporarily, causing chaos among hundreds of thousands of people trying to leave the city for the weekend.
The attacks marked a resurgence of ETA violence after months of relative inactivity. The group has been severely weakened by a police crackdown that has resulted in more than 100 arrests this year.
The bombings dashed hopes of a Christmas truce. The guerrillas and their closest political allies had called for peace talks with the government, offers that politicians rejected.
ETA, whose initials stand for Basque Homeland and Freedom, warned of the bombings in a call to the Basque newspaper Gara, a method it regularly uses to announce impending attacks. The warning gave police time to clear the areas.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
