29/10/2000 00:00
TW
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MADRID. REUTERS. A car bomb killed three people and injured at least 10 in a residential suburb of Madrid on Monday, an emergency services spokesman said, in what appeared to be the latest attack by the Basque separatist group ETA. The spokesman said one of the injured was in serious condition but added that he was due to receive further information on the number of victims soon. Radio reporters on the scene said the three dead had burned to death in a car after the explosion. Around 30 cars and a bus were caught up in the explosion, Spanish state radio said. It immediately blamed ETA, which has killed 16 people in similar attacks this year after ending a ceasefire in December.

The explosion occurred near Arturo Soria Avenue, one of Madrid's busiest streets. Spokesmen for the police and the Interior Ministry said they could not comment. ETA often uses car bombs to carry out its attacks, but Monday's blast would be the bloodiest since the end of the 14-month ceasefire.

ETA has waged a 32-year campaign for an independent Basque state and has stepped up its violent attacks this summer.