Bomb explodes in Basque country

A bomb has exploded outside a court house in Spain’s northern Basque region, causing considerable damage but no injuries, police said today.

Police said the detonation in the town of Tolosa was preceded by a warning call made to a regional road rescue service by a man saying he spoke on behalf of Basque separatist group Eta.

The caller said a bomb would explode by the court house at 1.15am Saturday.

Officers went to the scene where they found a rucksack and proceeded to cordon off the area. Police say the rucksack exploded at the announced time and blew a hole in the courthouse, breaking glass all around the building.

On September 22, Eta used a large car bomb to kill Sgt Maj. Luis Conde de la Cruz, 46, an off-duty soldier who was on holiday at an army seaside retreat in the northern city of Santona.