Madrid hit by five explosions after ETA threat

Five bombs have exploded petrol stations in the Spanish capital Madrid after a threat by Basque separatist group ETA.

Five bombs have exploded petrol stations in the Spanish capital Madrid after a threat by Basque separatist group ETA.

The bombs were small and authorities managed to evacuate the petrol stations in time, a police spokesman said.

A phone call in the name of the group said five bombs had been placed in the Madrid area and were set to explode at 5.30 p.m., Basque newspaper Gara reported on its website.

ETA, which has not launched a major attack in months, regularly uses Gara to announce impending attacks.