29.07.08 - 12:24 -
The province of Malaga has been targeted by ETA 22 times, with tourist hotspots Malaga and the Costa del Sol high up on the group’s hit list. In recent years the terrorist group has carried out attacks in the city of Malaga several times during the high season. On July 15th 2000, Partido Popular councillor José María Martín Carpena was gunned down by the terrorist group as he left his house. Just four days later the authorities foiled an attack against the Malaga Socialist José Asenjo.
ETA was also responsible for for the foiled car bomb attack at Malaga Airport on July 25th 2001, where 50 kilos of explosives were deactivated by bomb experts in a car parked at the departures terminal.
A further five attacks took place on June 21st and 22nd 2002, including car bombs in Fuengirola, Mijas and Marbella. The separatist group began targeting tourist areas in the province back in 1979 when a bomb was planted on a beach in Marbella and in another attack in the town, a car bomb was programmed to go off six hours after six people were injured in another bomb attack near a hotel in Fuengirola.
Despite the number of attacks the group are responsible for in the province, there has only been one mortal victim. ETA members Igor Solana Matarranz and Harriet Iragi shot dead PP councillor José María Martín Carpena in front of his wife and two daughters as he left his house eight years ago.
