U.S. Embassy in Spain gets suspicious package amid string of letter bombs – National | 24CA News
Police in Spain detonated a suspicious envelope found on the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spanish officers mentioned Thursday, a day after an analogous bundle despatched to the Ukrainian Embassy ignited upon opening and injured an worker.
“We can confirm a suspicious package was received at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, and are aware of reports of other packages sent to other locations throughout Spain,” the American embassy mentioned in a response to an Associated Press inquiry.
“We are grateful to Spanish law enforcement for their assistance with this matter,” it added.
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Ukrainian embassy explosion in Spain injures worker: police
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Authorities cordoned off a large space across the embassy, situated within the centre of Spain’s capital.
The motion adopted police reporting that a number of explosive letters have been despatched in Spain over the previous two days. Police mentioned they have been delivered to Spain’s Defence Ministry, a European Union satellite tv for pc heart situated on the Torrejon de Ardoz air base exterior Madrid and to an arms manufacturing facility in northeastern Spain that makes grenades despatched to Ukraine.
Spanish authorities have but to find out who was answerable for the letters or hyperlink them to the battle in Ukraine.
Authorities mentioned a bomb squad additionally destroyed an explosive system that was dispatched by common submit to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Nov. 24.
Police officers cordon off the world subsequent to the U.S. embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Dec. 1. Spanish officers say a suspicious envelope has been found on the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and positioned beneath police management.
Paul White/AP
The Russian Embassy in Madrid on Thursday condemned the letter bombs, saying in a tweet that “any threat or terrorist attack, especially those directed at diplomatic missions, are totally condemnable.”
The bundle despatched to the Ukrainian Embassy was addressed to the nation’s ambassador to Spain. The worker dealing with it was barely injured when it burst into flames.
Spain’s National Court is investigating the incident as a terrorist act.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ordered stepped-up safety in any respect of Ukraine’s international embassies overseas and requested his Spanish counterpart for a quick investigation.
An preliminary evaluation indicated the primary 5 packages have been seemingly despatched from inside Spain, Secretary of State for Security Rafael Perez mentioned. Police mentioned all however one of many letter bombs have been disposed of.
Perez mentioned the one intact explosive system was from the air base and that it and its packaging could be a part of the investigation.
Police officers stand guard as different officers in yellow vests stroll again on the cordoned off space subsequent to the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 30. (Paul White/AP).
PW
Officials mentioned that bundle was despatched to the director of the European Union Satellite Center. The heart, often known as SatCen, is an EU geospatial intelligence physique, and and its missions embody monitoring Ukraine.
The Defence Ministry bundle was addressed to Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles, Perez mentioned. Spain has contributed each navy and humanitarian support to Ukraine for the reason that begin of the Russian invasion.
Robles was visiting Ukraine on Thursday to help its protection effort with one other support bundle. Authorities didn’t present particulars concerning the support, saying they didn’t wish to give away delicate data to Russia’s forces.
Robles mentioned the disturbing discoveries of latest days would haven’t any impact on Spain’s full backing of Ukraine.
“The police are investigating these packages, but let one thing be perfectly clear,” she mentioned in Spanish. “None of these packages or any other violent act will change the clear and firm support that Spain and other NATO and EU countries have for Ukraine.”
The arms manufacturing facility focused is situated within the northeastern metropolis of Zaragoza. The parcel was addressed to the manufacturing facility’s director.
A authorities official in Zaragoza mentioned that each the arms manufacturing facility and Ukrainian Embassy packages had the identical e-mail deal with listed because the sender. No additional particulars got.
The sending of small explosive units in postal parcels shouldn’t be unusual in lots of nations. They have been a typical prevalence for a few years in Spain, particularly throughout probably the most energetic years of the now-defunct armed Basque group ETA.
Perez mentioned safety was elevated at public buildings following the invention of the bundle despatched to Spain’s prime minister. The transfer now has been prolonged to embassies, which already had additional safety measures in place after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
