page_title: Zaragoza barracks bombing
section_title: The attack
hierarchical_section_title: Zaragoza barracks bombing / The attack / The attack
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Dieses Bild zeigt Dr. Javier Solana. Er ist Generalsekretär sowohl des Rates der Europäischen Union (EU) als auch der Westeuropäischen Union (WEU) und Hoher Vertreter für die Gemeinsame Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik (GASP). Dieses Foto zeigt ihn bei der Diskussion mit Studierenden der renommierten Aachener Universität (RWTH), einen Tag bevor er den Internationalen Karlspreis der Stadt Aachen entgegen nimmt. Die Aufnahme wurde, der rechtlichen Situation in Deutschland entsprechend, mit der Universität abgestimmt. English: This image shows Dr. Javier Solana. He is the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU). This photograph shows him as he is discussing with students of the renownend Aachen University (RWTH), one day before receiving the International Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen (Karlspreis). According to the legal situation in Germany, the university of Aachen was asked for permission before taking the photograph. Français&#160;: Dr. Javier Solana, Haut représentant pour la Politique étrangère et de sécurité commune, secrétaire général du Conseil de l'Union européenne, et de l'Union de l'Europe occidentale. Image prise lors d'une visite de l'Université d'Aix-la-Chapelle. Español: Esta imagen muestra al Doctor Javier Solana. Es el Alto Representante para la Política Exterior y de Seguridad Común (PESC) y Secretario General del Consejo de la Unión Europea (UE) y de la Unión de Europa Occidental. La imagen se tomo durante una visita a la Universidad de Aquisgrán (RWTH) en Alemania. 日本語: ハビエル・ソラナ博士、欧州連合理事会の事務総長。　ドイツのアーヘン大学（RWTH Aachen）で学生達とのディスカッションの時の様子を撮った写真です。　ドイツの法律に基づき事前に許可を得て撮影されています。 Türkçe: Doktor Javier Solana. Camera data Camera: Canon EOS 350D Lens: EF 70–200 mm 1:4 L USM Focal length: 200 mm Aperture: f/4 Exposure time: 1/100 s Sensivity: ISO 800 Accessories: Tripod
context_page_description: The 1987 Zaragoza barracks bombing was a car bomb attack by the Basque separatist organisation ETA, which occurred on 11 December 1987. A vehicle containing 250 kilograms of ammonal was parked beside the main Guardia Civil barracks in the city of Zaragoza, Spain; its subsequent explosion caused the deaths of 11 people, including 5 children. A total of 88 people were injured, the majority of them civilians.
  The attack came just six months after ETA had killed 21 people in a car bomb attack on a Hipercor shopping centre in Barcelona.
  Responsibility for the attack was placed on the Argala Commando Unit, an itinerant unit composed of French citizens who returned to France after committing attacks. Those involved in the attacks and those responsible for their planning were detained in a number of police operations during 1989 and 1992.
context_section_description: At 06:10 on 11 December, a Guardia Civil officer stationed at the entrance to the barracks noticed 2 men parking a Renault 18 in front of the building. When he approached them to inform them that they were not allowed to park vehicles in front of the building, they fled. Suspecting an imminent attack, the officer rushed back to the barracks to raise the alarm. The ETA militants escaped from the scene in another vehicle which they had parked nearby. Before the officer had had time to wake those sleeping, the 250 kilograms (550 lb) of ammonal exploded, making a huge hole in the wall and instantly demolishing all four floors. The blast also hit neighboring houses. Members of the Red Cross, security forces, and medical personnel quickly arrived at the scene. The building's collapse forced them to clear debris in search of those trapped beneath. The large number of emergency vehicles at the scene led to the accidental death of a motorcyclist, who was hit by a military vehicle.
  Firefighters eventually removed the debris and began removing the bodies of those killed in the attack, which included 3-year-old twins and girls of 6 and 7 years old. In addition, there were 88 injured, some of whom needed to have limbs amputated. The rescue effort continued through the night and, at 13:45 the following day, the last bodies, those of Angel Alcaraz and Maria Dolores Franco, wife of a policeman, were pulled from the rubble.
  Government spokesman Javier Solana was the first Minister to speak to the Press following the attack:
  I want to express feelings of regret, sorrow, and solidarity to the families of the victims, the wounded and in general all the Guardia Civil...it is extremely serious and especially disgusting that the attack has caused casualties among children, which again highlights the moral character of its authors and their supporters. On behalf of the Government I can say that there are no contacts with murderers...the importance of the anti-terrorist agreement of all political formations has not changed. And today the anti-terrorist Pact is more important than ever before."
caption: Javier Solana was the first government minister to condemn the attack
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