Thousands of tourists in the Costa del Sol found themselves stranded at the weekend as police searched for three ETA bombs.
Tourists were caught up in six-mile long traffic jams as police closed the access road to Malaga airport whilst searching for a bomb placed on the nearby motorway by the Basque separatist group. Whilst the bomb was deactivated, another two small explosive devices were detonated in the
Malaga area on Sunday. One exploded on a beach at Guadalmar whilst the other exploded at the marina in Benalmadena.
Warning was given and there were no casualties or injuries, but more than 10,000 holiday makers were evacuated from the areas whilst others were confined to their hotels. Police are on alert for attacks in the Andalusia area of southern Spain after they arrested members of ETA last month and discovered evidence that the group were planning further attacks in the region.
The group has been known to set off small explosive devices in some Spanish resorts during the peak summer holiday season, hoping to target the tourist industry as part of its fight for Basque independence. In June 2007, the Basque terrorist organisation ETA declared an end to a 14 month ceasefire.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned that there is a high threat from terrorism in
Spain and that attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. The Spanish authorities are fully aware of the impact of terrorism and are taking measures to protect visitors, but it is important to be vigilant. Disruptions from real or hoax terror attempts can be expected and you should follow the instructions of the local police and other authorities.
