ETA sought 'indiscriminate massacre' with attack on Burgos barracks

ETA sought 'indiscriminate massacre' with attack on Burgos barracks
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By m.p. - Jul 29, 2009 - 7:17 PM
Police checked the details of the van which contained the explosives the night before. It was fitted with false number plates

Forensic police at the barracks in Burgos – EFE

The Interior Minister has confirmed that the van which exploded early on Wednesday next to the Civil Guard barracks in Burgos, injuring 65 people, was fitted with false number plates which, Europa Press reports, matched those of another white Mercedes Vito van owned by a man who lives in that area. The news agency said officers checked the van’s details the night before the explosion happened.

The bomb attack came at around 4am with no warning call and was aimed, Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba said, not only at the Civil Guards, but also at their families. He said there were 120 people sleeping in the barracks at the time of the explosion, including 41 children, saying the terrorists were undoubtedly seeking to kill.

The van is believed to be one of the three the authorities were warned were stolen in France and were packed with explosives to bring to Spain. The other two suspect vehicles were reported by El Mundo newspaper to be a white Kangoo and either a green or a white Citroën Berlingo. The paper said the van used in the explosion on Wednesday was packed with an estimated 200 – 300 kilos of explosives and had been parked there since around lunchtime on Tuesday.

The attack by ‘mad, savage murderers’ was described as despicable by Spain’s Interior Minister, and Juan Vicente Herrera, President of the Junta de Castilla y León,

The Burgos barracks after the blast - EFE

believes the terrorists were planning a massacre at the Civil Guard barracks. The opposition leader, Mariano Rajoy, spoke of ETA’s ‘criminal zeal’ in failing to give a warning and reiterated his support for the government in catching those responsible.

Many government Ministers spoke out about this latest attack. Manuel Chaves, Minister for Regional Policy, said the terrorists were seeking a totally indiscriminate massacre, while the Justice Minister, Francisco Caamaño, strongly condemned it, saying all the force of the law will be brought to bear for those responsible to end up in prison.

The Partido Popular politician who led the party’s candidate list at the European elections, Jaime Mayor Oreja, meanwhile believes the attack is macabre notice from ETA that they want to negotiate. The former Interior Minister said we must give the terrorists the clear message that we shall not negotiate again.

The Prime Minister also condemned the attack. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero expressed his ‘most radical’ condemnation of the attack and said that Spain would continue to see results in the fight against terrorism. He expressed his support for the Guardia Civil and their families and said the Government was firmly decided to erase this stain suffered by the country. He added that all the state security forces were already working intensely to arrest the assassins.

Also on Wednesday, two people were arrested in Guipúzcoa over connections to a web site which sought funding for the terrorist organisation over the Internet. One is reported to be the Spanish surf champion, Iker Acero.

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