Police in Spain have arrested a Spanish man on suspicion of sending six letter bombs to the Spanish prime minister and different high-profile targets late final 12 months, the nation’s inside ministry mentioned in a press release Wednesday.
The arrest of the 74-year-old suspect passed off within the city of Miranda de Ebro, a couple of three-hour drive north of Madrid, the ministry press workplace mentioned.
The one reported damage from the six letter bombs was on the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid final November 30. An embassy worker was injured whereas dealing with the letter, which was addressed to the Ukrainian ambassador, Spanish officers mentioned on the time.
Authorities mentioned that the opposite 5 letter bombs, all intercepted by safety screening and leading to no accidents, have been despatched in late November or early December.
They have been despatched to the Spanish prime minister, Spain’s protection minister, the US Embassy in Madrid, a Spanish air drive base close to Madrid and a Spanish arms maker within the northern metropolis of Zaragoza.
Spanish media reported that weapons from the Spanish arms maker, Instalaza, had reportedly been despatched by Spain final 12 months to assist Ukraine in its combat in opposition to Russia’s invasion of that nation. The corporate has declined to remark to CNN concerning the stories.
The arrest of the suspect is a part of an ongoing operation coordinated by an investigating Justice of the Peace at Spain’s Nationwide Courtroom in Madrid, the inside ministry mentioned.
The suspect is predicted to be arraigned earlier than a Nationwide Courtroom decide on Friday in a closed-door listening to, the court docket’s press workplace informed CNN.
On December 1 the ministry ordered elevated safety at embassies and consulates in Spain, and at different websites requiring particular safety. Safety had already been boosted after the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of final 12 months.
After the spate of letter bombs, the Russian embassy in Madrid tweeted that it condemned the sending of such gadgets.
“We condemn any menace or terrorist act,” it tweeted.
