This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7878354.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Van bomb shakes Spanish capital | Van bomb shakes Spanish capital |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A van loaded with a bomb has exploded near a conference centre and railway line in the east of Spain's capital, Madrid, reportedly causing no injuries. | A van loaded with a bomb has exploded near a conference centre and railway line in the east of Spain's capital, Madrid, reportedly causing no injuries. |
The bomb exploded outside the Campo de las Naciones at around 0900 (0800 GMT), about 90 minutes after a warning was received by the Spanish Red Cross. | The bomb exploded outside the Campo de las Naciones at around 0900 (0800 GMT), about 90 minutes after a warning was received by the Spanish Red Cross. |
Police were able to cordon off the entire area and clear the trade fair centre before the blast occurred. | Police were able to cordon off the entire area and clear the trade fair centre before the blast occurred. |
The Spanish authorities have blamed the Basque separatist movement, Eta. | The Spanish authorities have blamed the Basque separatist movement, Eta. |
Eta has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people and for numerous car bombs during its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. | Eta has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people and for numerous car bombs during its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. |
Regional elections | Regional elections |
The Spanish Red Cross received a telephone call shortly at 0737 (0637 GMT) on Monday morning, naming the street in eastern Madrid where the bomb had been left inside a parked Peugeot van. | The Spanish Red Cross received a telephone call shortly at 0737 (0637 GMT) on Monday morning, naming the street in eastern Madrid where the bomb had been left inside a parked Peugeot van. |
The device exploded an hour and a half later, close to the Campo de las Naciones centre, a railway line, and the headquarters of the construction firm Ferrovial Agroman. | The device exploded an hour and a half later, close to the Campo de las Naciones centre, a railway line, and the headquarters of the construction firm Ferrovial Agroman. |
Witnesses have described a high-intensity explosion which broke windows. Emergency services at the scene have reported no injuries. | Witnesses have described a high-intensity explosion which broke windows. Emergency services at the scene have reported no injuries. |
The attack happened less than three weeks before regional elections in the Basque Country. | |
At the weekend, the Spanish Supreme Court banned two nationalist parties from fielding candidates in those polls following allegations of links to Eta. | At the weekend, the Spanish Supreme Court banned two nationalist parties from fielding candidates in those polls following allegations of links to Eta. |
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid says Spanish police had been expecting a violent response. | The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid says Spanish police had been expecting a violent response. |
Railways have been a chosen target of Eta, which opposes the construction of a high-speed line between Madrid and the Basque Country, our correspondent says. | Railways have been a chosen target of Eta, which opposes the construction of a high-speed line between Madrid and the Basque Country, our correspondent says. |
Last month, the group said it was behind the December killing of a Basque businessman whose company was working on the project. | Last month, the group said it was behind the December killing of a Basque businessman whose company was working on the project. |