BBC Friday, 12 October, 2001, 23:17 GMT 00:17 UK

Blast rocks central Madrid A powerful explosion has occured a car park in the centre of the Spanish capital, Madrid.

State radio is reporting that it was caused by a car bomb.

One report says several people have been injured and taken to hospital.

In the past, Basque separatist group ETA has carried out car bomb attacks as part of its campaign of violence.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Answers

BBC - Saturday, 13 October, 2001, 00:57 GMT 01:57 UK

Blast rocks central Madrid

Blast "similar to an ETA attack in August"

A car bomb has exploded in the Spanish capital Madrid, injuring at least 10 people.

The bomb went off in a car park under the central Plaza de Colon, just hours after a military parade passed by to mark a Spanish national day.

King Juan Carlos watched the parade and was seated just 100 yards from where the bomb went off.

Authorities said four of the injured were police officers. Most of the injured were treated on the spot for smoke inhalation.

ETA suspected

A spokesman for the city's fire department said the the blast blew a large hole in the car park's floor, damaging 67 cars.

He said the blast resembled the car bomb explosion at Madrid's Barajas airport in August.

That blast was blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA.

Spanish national radio, quoting Madrid's Mayor Jose Maria Alvarez, said the latest blast was caused by a car that had been towed to the car park, which was also a pound for illegally parked vehicles.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001