Authorities defused a letter bomb at the US embassy in Madrid, Spain on Thursday and said several more similar devices had been sent to high-profile government officials and embassies.
On Thursday, bomb makers safely dismantled the sixth such device to appear in recent weeks, believed to be part of a wave of actions taken to try to influence foreign policy, especially the country’s ongoing involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The first of the suspected and potentially dangerous devices was addressed to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Nov. 24.
A Spanish policeman stands guard near the US embassy in Madrid, December 1, 2022, after receiving a letter bomb, similar to the one that exploded at the Ukrainian embassy.
(OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
Its discovery prompted the implementation of additional security measures and increased awareness of such devices. Five more have been discovered.
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Similar devices were found at the Spanish Defense Ministry, an air base, an arms manufacturer and the Ukrainian embassy, the latter of which caused minor injuries to a security officer.
After the device was found, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said it would not discourage the country from supporting Ukraine and its “just cause” to fight against Russia.
General view of a police device in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Madrid, where a parcel bomb was received, Dec. 1, 2022, in Madrid, Spain.
(Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty Images)
The statement came as Robles was meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.
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“What must be very clear is that none of these deliveries or any other violent action will change the clear and firm commitment of Spain, NATO countries and the European Union to support Ukraine,” said Robles, reported Reuters.
Thursday’s package was found by security officials and eventually handed over to Spanish police to be detonated safely.
A military police car patrols the main entrance to the Spanish airbase, in Torrejon de Ardoz near Madrid, December 1, 2022, after Spanish security forces found a ‘suspicious’ package, a day after a letter bomb exploded at the Ukrainian embassy in the Spanish capital.
(OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
On Wednesday, the bomb letters were found at the Ukrainian embassy and at the arms manufacturer Instalaza, which has supplied weapons to Ukraine. Three bombs were found on Thursday.
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The bombs arrive as Ukraine continues its war against Russia on its eastern territories. Russia has militarily captured Donbass, including Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and other areas, but Ukrainian forces have recaptured some territories.
Russia first invaded Ukraine on February 24th.
Reuters contributed to this report.
