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News, August '09ETA kills on 50th anniversary of terror... and continues Mallorca bombings.31st July, 09. To 'commemorate' the 50th anniversary of ETA's reign of terror, two major bombings have taken place in the last two days. On 29th a van full of explosive ruined a big Civil Guard barracks in Burgos, causing some injuries and major structural damage to a building. Worse in terms of life was the killing of two Civil Guards with a magnet bomb under their car in Palmanova, Mallorca, on the 30th. Hours later, a second magnet bomb was defused under a car at another nearby Civil Guard post. BBC resumé - more links below. The terror group resumed activity in Mallorca with 3 small devices on Sunday, 9th August. Intelligence had been aware of the robbery of 3 vans in France recently, with the fear they might be used by ETA. Likewise there was an awareness of possible ETA members having arrived in Mallorca. In the past few days, as the Royal family is due to arrive any time, road controls have been stepped up and people living close to the Marivent palace have been checked and identified by police visits to their homes. Indeed, the Civil Guard had known of the threat to Palmanova since the fall of an ETA 'commando' year. Yet all to no avail prior to the late July bombings. August attacksOn Sunday 9th August ETA claimed responsibility for the July attacks (BBC report) and then warned of 4 bombs placed in locations around the city of Palma. A first small explosive device went off about 2 p.m. in an Italian restaurant full of Sunday diners on the sea front in an area frequented mostly by local people. Two hours later a second device, already located in another nearby bar, but not deactivated, also exploded. Yet 2 hours later the third bomb went off in an underground shopping area in the city centre. Police were also searching for a fourth device in the busy transport hub at Plaza España. Nothing was found here. More from the BBC.On this occasion the airport continued working as normal, with the already heightened police presence of the past two weeks. July bombs and deaths.Palmanova is part of the prime British holiday destination in Mallorca, including Magaluf and Santa Ponsa. As can be imagined, many British holidaymakers were within earshot of the bomb. You can hear an eye witness report at this BBC report. People with flights to and from the island were also affected as several flights were turned back or sent to other islands. Flights to the Spanish mainland were most affected. However, the airport was not fully closed as reported on some media. The Economist comments. BBC reports: Palmanova, 30th) Burgos, 29th |