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Spain terror campaign set to hit British holiday plans
Tom Worden in Madrid and Benedict Moore-Bridger31 Jul 2009
British holidaymakers face a summer of extra security measures and potential disruption as Spanish police step up security amid fears of a terror campaign in tourist resorts.
Flights to Majorca resumed today after the airport was closed following a car bomb attack in which two police officers were killed.
Prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has ordered the Civil Guard, the National Police and the security services to redouble their efforts against terrorism.
He said: "The government has given instructions to the security forces to step up their vigilance to the maximum, to redouble their efforts, and to offer protection from these vile killers. They aren't going to escape justice. They're going to spend their lives in jail."
It is thought the device on Majorca was a limpet bomb activated at a distance, which means the killers were watching as the two men got into the car.
Basque separatist group Eta is suspected of carrying out the attack, which happened around lunchtime yesterday outside offices run by the Civil Guard - just a few miles from the Marivent palace, where members of Spain's royal family were spending their traditional summer holiday.
An 11-year-old British boy saw the charred body of an officer being pulled from the wreckage of the car. Mitchell Van Dijk was lounging by a pool with his father Peter, brother Cameron and Maureen Mitchell, 34, Mr Van Dijk's partner.
Ms Mitchell said: "Suddenly there was a massive bang. Everyone was panicking. Peter's son Mitchell ran over and saw a charred body with no legs being pulled from the burnt-out car. Kids were crying hysterically."
It came a day after a car bomb also blamed on Eta injured about 60 people at a police barracks in the northern Spanish city of Burgos.
Majorca police immediately closed ports and airports to prevent the bombers' escape. One plane which did manage to leave was carrying the members of the Spanish royal family, including Queen Sofia, out of Majorca.
Police later deactivated another bomb placed beneath a second car near the site of the first explosion, an officer at the scene said.
There are some 30,000 tourists in the Palmanova area alone enjoying their summer holidays, the majority of whom are British.
Holidaymakers at Gatwick airport last night spoke of their fear of further terror attacks in Majorca as they prepared to board flights to the bomb-hit resort. Passengers said they felt "nervous" about jetting to the popular tourist hub as flights to the island resumed.
Dan Hutchins and his wife Donna, 32, from Tonbridge, were taking their daughter Chloe, five, on a week-long trip. The structural engineer said: "We were initially concerned as we saw the news reports in the bar.
"We feel quite nervous to be honest - it's not great knowing you may be flying into danger. I've got a wife and child to look after. But we're not going to let it ruin our holiday."
Passengers experienced up to three-hour delays, but flights were running as normal today.
