A car bomb has injured a man believed to be a politician's bodyguard near the centre of Bilbao in Spain's Basque Country, local police sources say.
A car bomb has injured a man believed to be a politician's bodyguard near the centre of Bilbao in Spain's Basque Country, local police sources say.
It went off under the vehicle in the city's La Pena area near the historic centre at about 1325 (1135 GMT).
It went off under the vehicle in the city's La Pena area near the historic centre at about 1325 (1135 GMT).
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
It comes days after suspected leaders of the banned separatist party Batasuna were arrested - an action the party described as a "declaration of war"
It comes days after suspected leaders of the banned separatist party Batasuna were arrested - an action the party described as a "declaration of war"
Spanish media say the injured man is a bodyguard for a town councillor from Spain's ruling Socialist Party, who is believed to be unhurt.
Spanish media say the injured man is a bodyguard for a town councillor from Spain's ruling Socialist Party, who is believed to be unhurt.
A police spokesman said "one person [had] left the vehicle" after it caught fire, without giving further details.
The bodyguard received burn injuries but his life is not thought to be in danger, Basque Country regional government spokeswoman Miren Azkarate said.
"He would have burns on his scalp, on his hands and some superficial wounds on his back," she added.
The politician he had been assigned to protect, Jose Carlos Domingo, told Spanish radio that he and his family had been "really shaken up" by the attack.
Crackdown
Crackdown
While there was no immediate claim, correspondents say suspicion is likely to fall on the armed separatist group Eta, which has been active again after calling off a 15-month cease-fire in June.
While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Basque regional government sources said the attack bore the hallmarks of an attack by the armed separatist group Eta.
Eta, whose decades-long campaign has led to more than 800 deaths, called off a 15-month ceasefire in June.
The most senior Batasuna official still at liberty, Pernando Barrena, warned of a "new cycle of violence" in Spain following the arrests last week.
The most senior Batasuna official still at liberty, Pernando Barrena, warned of a "new cycle of violence" in Spain following the arrests last week.
Police had detained 22 people in the town of Segura, on the orders of top anti-terrorism judge Baltasar Garzon.
Police had detained 22 people in the town of Segura, on the orders of top anti-terrorism judge Baltasar Garzon.
It is believed that Batasuna leaders were meeting there to transfer control to new party leaders.
It is believed that Batasuna leaders were meeting there to transfer control to new party leaders.
Mr Garzon led moves to outlaw Batasuna five years ago, accusing it of being a front for Eta.
Mr Garzon led moves to outlaw Batasuna five years ago, accusing it of being an Eta front.
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