ETA detonates four small bombs at Cantabria resorts 21/07/2008 00:00

Basque terrorist group launches traditional summer bombing campaign, starting with four small bombs exploding at beach resorts at Cantabria resorts on Sunday.

21 July 2008

MADRID - Four small bombs exploded Sunday at beach resorts on the northern Cantabrian coast as Basque terrorist group ETA launched its traditional summer bombing campaign aimed at harming Spain's tourism industry.

The bombs, which caused no injuries and only slight material damage, went off on two popular beaches in Laredo and Noja as well as on a golf course in the latter resort between midday at 3pm.

ETA gave advance warning to firefighters in the town of Trápaga that allowed police to evacuate the beaches and cordon off the areas before the bombs detonated.

The explosions follow a car bomb attack on a Civil Guard barracks in the Basque Country in May, in which a Civil Guard officer was killed and four other people were injured.

Since 1979, ETA has typically carried out small-scale bombings over the summer months in a bid to deter tourists from visiting Spain, the world's second-most popular tourism destination after France.

[El Pais / Expatica]