Police defuse car bomb at Malaga airport

Bomb disposal experts defused a car bomb at Malaga international airport today following a warning call from Basque separatist…

Bomb disposal experts defused a car bomb at Malaga international airport today following a warning call from Basque separatist group ETA, government sources said.

Experts carried out three controlled explosions to defuse the device, police sources said.

ETA made two warning telephone calls at around 6 a.m. Irish time to the fire and medical services in San Sebastian.

The stolen Peugeot 405 sporting false number plates contains around 40 kilogrammes of explosives.

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Departures at Costa del Sol airport were disrupted until 10 a.m. Irish time, but incoming flights were allowed to follow normal procedures.

Tourist areas, such as the Costa del Sol, are often the targets of ETA, who try to hit Spain's main source of income.

ETA also claimed responsibility today for 15 attacks since the start of March that have left five people dead.

ETA, which has been fighting for an independent homeland in the Spanish Basque country for more than 30 years, has been blamed for the murders of 11 people since the beginning of the year and 800 deaths since the start of its campaign.

AFP