BBC News | EUROPE | Car bomb explodes in Bilbao

BBC News Online: World: Europe

Saturday, 12 January, 2002, 14:21 GMT

Police were unable to find the car containing the bomb

A car bomb has exploded in central Bilbao, in the Basque region of northern Spain, injuring two people.

A warning was received, which claimed that the armed separatist group ETA was responsible for the blast.

Police evacuated the area, in the Gran Via, near El Corte Ingles department store, but were unable to identify which car contained the bomb.

The seven-storey store, which was packed with Saturday shoppers, was evacuated before the blast, which went off just before 1345 (1245GMT).

The two people injured were hit by flying glass, as many windows in the area were shattered.

The Basque region has suffered years of violence carried out by ETA; more than 800 people have died since the 1960s.

Saturday's blast would be the first attack by the group in 2002, if it is confirmed to be the work of ETA.

Related to this story:
Two police hurt in Bilbao blast (20 Nov 01 | Europe) Madrid blast after ETA warning (27 Aug 01 | Europe) ETA bomb targets Spanish tourism (26 Jul 01 | Europe) Proud Basques defend ancient culture (06 Dec 99 | Europe)

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