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| Spain on high alert after bombs | Spain on high alert after bombs |
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| Police in Spain are on heightened alert after two bomb attacks in 48 hours blamed on the Basque separatists, Eta. | Police in Spain are on heightened alert after two bomb attacks in 48 hours blamed on the Basque separatists, Eta. |
| On Thursday, two Civil Guard officers were killed when a car bomb exploded outside a base in the resort town of Palmanova on the island of Majorca. | On Thursday, two Civil Guard officers were killed when a car bomb exploded outside a base in the resort town of Palmanova on the island of Majorca. |
| Another car bomb blast on Wednesday destroyed much of a police barracks in the northern city of Burgos and left more than 50 people slightly wounded. | Another car bomb blast on Wednesday destroyed much of a police barracks in the northern city of Burgos and left more than 50 people slightly wounded. |
| The attacks coincide with the 50th anniversary of Eta's founding. | The attacks coincide with the 50th anniversary of Eta's founding. |
| They also come at a time when police resources are stretched because of the start of the holiday season. | They also come at a time when police resources are stretched because of the start of the holiday season. |
| Map of where the bomb struck | Map of where the bomb struck |
| Following Thursday's bombing, the authorities temporarily closed ports and airports on Majorca as part of a security operation to prevent those responsible from escaping, causing travel chaos for tourists. | Following Thursday's bombing, the authorities temporarily closed ports and airports on Majorca as part of a security operation to prevent those responsible from escaping, causing travel chaos for tourists. |
| Eta has been held responsible for more than 820 deaths during its campaign for an independent homeland in Spain's Basque region. | Eta has been held responsible for more than 820 deaths during its campaign for an independent homeland in Spain's Basque region. |
| 'Vile murderers' | 'Vile murderers' |
| The two Civil Guards who were killed in Palmanova - Carlos Saenz de Tejada Garcia and Diego Salva Lesaun - had been inside a patrol car parked outside the El Foc barracks when a bomb planted underneath exploded it, security officials said. | The two Civil Guards who were killed in Palmanova - Carlos Saenz de Tejada Garcia and Diego Salva Lesaun - had been inside a patrol car parked outside the El Foc barracks when a bomb planted underneath exploded it, security officials said. |
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| Video footage of the moment after the blast in Majorca | Video footage of the moment after the blast in Majorca |
| Several people were injured by the powerful explosion on the busy road, which sent the vehicle flying through the air and set it on fire. | Several people were injured by the powerful explosion on the busy road, which sent the vehicle flying through the air and set it on fire. |
| Police later defused a second explosive device placed under another civil guard vehicle at a different base on Majorca, officials said. | Police later defused a second explosive device placed under another civil guard vehicle at a different base on Majorca, officials said. |
| There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack yet, but Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said it bore all the hallmarks of Eta. | There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack yet, but Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said it bore all the hallmarks of Eta. |
| "I want to condemn this new low blow with much rage and pain, but also with much determination," he said in a televised address. | "I want to condemn this new low blow with much rage and pain, but also with much determination," he said in a televised address. |
| "The criminal attack comes at a time when the civil guards and national police, with the co-operation of French security forces, are striking against the terrorist group as never before," he added. | "The criminal attack comes at a time when the civil guards and national police, with the co-operation of French security forces, are striking against the terrorist group as never before," he added. |
| Mr Zapatero said Eta members were being "arrested earlier and in greater numbers, and this is the way it will continue to be". | Mr Zapatero said Eta members were being "arrested earlier and in greater numbers, and this is the way it will continue to be". |
| ANALYSIS Marian Hens BBC News, Madrid Eta is trying to present this as a sign of the group's renewed strength. | ANALYSIS Marian Hens BBC News, Madrid Eta is trying to present this as a sign of the group's renewed strength. |
| After repeated arrests of its leadership and the success of the anti-terrorist campaign launched by the Spanish and the French authorities, the armed Basque separatists had been gradually losing ground. | After repeated arrests of its leadership and the success of the anti-terrorist campaign launched by the Spanish and the French authorities, the armed Basque separatists had been gradually losing ground. |
| In recent years, the organisation has also seen its political base eroded and support in the Basque county drop to the lowest level in the group's history. Read full article | In recent years, the organisation has also seen its political base eroded and support in the Basque county drop to the lowest level in the group's history. Read full article |
| "The government has given orders to the security forces to be on maximum alert, to double their work, to increase even more their efforts and to protect themselves from these vile murderers," he added. | "The government has given orders to the security forces to be on maximum alert, to double their work, to increase even more their efforts and to protect themselves from these vile murderers," he added. |
| "They have absolutely no chance of hiding. They cannot escape. They cannot avoid justice. They will be arrested. They will be sentenced. They will spend the rest of their lives in prison." | "They have absolutely no chance of hiding. They cannot escape. They cannot avoid justice. They will be arrested. They will be sentenced. They will spend the rest of their lives in prison." |
| Thursday's attack was the deadliest since two Spanish undercover policemen were shot during an operation in south-western France in December 2007. | Thursday's attack was the deadliest since two Spanish undercover policemen were shot during an operation in south-western France in December 2007. |
| The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid says that for many months Spaniards have been told by their government that Eta is historically weak, following the arrest of a string of alleged commanders of its military wing, but the past 48 hours have provided chilling evidence to the contrary. | The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid says that for many months Spaniards have been told by their government that Eta is historically weak, following the arrest of a string of alleged commanders of its military wing, but the past 48 hours have provided chilling evidence to the contrary. |
| Exactly 50 years after it was founded by a small group of radical Basque students, Eta appears to be making a statement - that it has the capability to strike anywhere, our correspondent says. | Exactly 50 years after it was founded by a small group of radical Basque students, Eta appears to be making a statement - that it has the capability to strike anywhere, our correspondent says. |
| With the country in its peak tourist season, and with thousands taking to the roads this weekend for their holidays, police resources will be stretched - amid genuine fears of more attacks, he adds. | With the country in its peak tourist season, and with thousands taking to the roads this weekend for their holidays, police resources will be stretched - amid genuine fears of more attacks, he adds. |
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| Are you travelling to or from Majorca? Have you been affected by travel disruptions or heightened security checks since Thursday's car bomb? Are you living on the island? What is the mood like there since the blast? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | |
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