Via CNN: Madrid bombing ‘breaks ETA cease-fire’

Spain has blamed a powerful bomb explosion at the country’s busiest airport Saturday on Basque separatist group ETA, declaring it a violation of a nine-month cease-fire.

Several people suffered minor injuries when a stolen van exploded in a parking lot near terminal four at Madrid’s Barajas International Airport, which had been evacuated after police received a warning.

One man is reported missing after the explosion. If found dead, he would be the first fatality caused by ETA in three years.

In response to the story, James Joyner notes:

It is worth noting that the government blamed the March 2024 Madrid commuter train bombing on ETA, too, when it was in fact set off by an al Qaeda affiliate.

Of course, that was the previous government, which had been supportive of the Bush administration and was in the midst of a tough re-election campaign.

Still, there is the timing issue, as noted by CNN:

Saturday’s explosion, which came shortly after the execution of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, raised fears of a retaliatory strike in a country that has suffered attacks in response to its support for international military operations.

I will note, that after the Madrid commuter train bombing it struck me (here, also) that ETA would have a very hard time using bombings as an effective tool in their fight for Basque independence. Along those line, bombing an airport (or even just a parking lot) strikes me as a potential PR nightmare for the organization.

However, given the scant facts available, ETA would seem to be a more likely candidate than al Qaeda and company. For one thing, ETA has a history of providing some pre-warning about an attack (as they did here) and their attacks tend to result more in injuries than death. AQ, on the other hand, tends to go for death over injuries.

The question now is whether ETA will claim responsibility or not (as has been their pattern). There is also the possibility that this is the handiwork of a splinter group unhappy with the ceasefire.