Eta blamed for fatal Madrid bomb
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A car bomb exploded in a working-class neighbourhood of Madrid yesterday, killing one policeman and injuring 13 others in an attack authorities blamed on the Basque separatist group Eta.
The explosion occurred shortly after 8.30pm local time in the southern Madrid neighbourhood of Aluche, near an office of the Justice Ministry, emergency service spokesman Leopoldo Hernaiz said.
Mr Hernaiz said 13 people were slightly injured with cuts and bruises, as well as with hearing problems caused by the explosion. Five were taken to hospital.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but police said they received a warning 15 minutes before the blast from a caller who identified himself as a member of Eta. They said the car was loaded with up to 44 pounds of explosives.
The dead man was Luis Ortiz de la Rosa, 34, a policeman who was trying to clear the area after the phone warning. The officer was reported to be married and had a 17-month-old baby.
The Basque group Gesto por la Paz – Gesture for Peace – said they were organising more than 100 rallies for today to protest the killing.
The most recent explosion blamed on Eta occurred in Madrid on 28 June when a bomb injured an army general.
Television footage last night showed shattered windows, wrecked cars and glass littering the street.
Rafael Hernando, a spokesman for the ruling Popular Party, described to bombing as "a new savage act by Eta."Since the group ended a 14th-month long cease-fire in December 1999, it has claimed responsibility for 31 killings. (AP)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments