Spain’s Prime Minister has been the target of a letter bomb: authorities have tightened security after six explosive devices were mailed to high-profile figures in a campaign of terror ‘over support from the country to Ukraine”
- Spain’s prime minister, defense ministry and arms manufacturer targeted
- No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the homemade devices
- The Kremlin has not commented on the attacks, which are being treated as terrorist acts
Spain has tightened security after sending six letter bombs to high-profile targets in a campaign believed to be linked to the country’s support for Ukraine.
The Spanish Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defense and an arms manufacturer which supplied rocket launchers to Ukraine were targeted, as well as the American and Ukrainian embassies and a military base.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the homemade devices.
The only victim was a Ukrainian embassy official who had to be hospitalized with burns after opening an envelope containing gunpowder.
Ukraine has pledged to step up security at its embassies around the world, with its ambassador to Spain warning: “We must be ready for any kind of Russian activity outside.” [Ukraine].’
Spanish police officers stood guard outside the US Embassy in Madrid yesterday after receiving a letter bomb
Spanish police blocked the street. A Ukrainian embassy worker was ‘slightly’ injured on November 30 when a letter bomb exploded while he was handling it
The Kremlin has not commented on the attacks, which are being treated as terrorist acts. But the Russian embassy in Madrid published a tweet condemning “any terrorist threat or act, in particular directed against a diplomatic mission”.
The first device was sent to the office of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on November 24 but was intercepted. Other letters were reportedly delivered this week.
The Ukrainian embassy in Madrid was cordoned off after a letter to the ambassador exploded on Wednesday afternoon and the US embassy was also cordoned off after it confirmed it had received a “suspicious package”.
The headquarters of Instalaza, an arms manufacturer that supplies C90 rocket launchers to Ukraine, was also targeted. Security forces also found a device mailed to a European Union satellite center at Torrejon de Ardoz airbase near Madrid.
The Kremlin has not commented on the attacks, which are being treated as terrorist acts. But the Russian embassy in Madrid published a tweet condemning “any terrorist threat or act, in particular directed against a diplomatic mission”. Pictured: Vladimir Putin yesterday
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said the attacks would not succeed “in intimidating Ukrainian diplomats or stopping their daily work to strengthen Ukraine and counter Russian aggression”.
This came as the Russian Foreign Minister accused the West of being directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine. Sergei Lavrov told reporters that by providing weapons and training, the United States and NATO “are not participating in this war”, [they] participate directly in it.
