ETA warns of four bombs in Spanish cities

A caller claiming to speak on behalf of the armed Basque separatist group ETA today said explosive devices had been planted in four Spanish cities, a Basque newspaper reported.

The caller said the devices were timed to explode at 1.30pm (12.30pm Irish time) in the northern cities of Avila, Valladolid, Leon and Santillana del Mar, the newspaper Gara said.

Five small explosive devices detonated on Friday evening in Madrid after a call to Gara from a person who claimed to be speaking on behalf of Eta. Damage was minor and two police officers were slightly injured. Gara often serves as a mouthpiece for Eta.

Another device was defused on Saturday in the southern city of Almeria.