The US embassy in Madrid was on high alert Thursday after receiving what’s believed to be a letter bomb — just at some point after the same package burst into flames when it was discovered on the Ukrainian Embassy.
“We are able to confirm a suspicious package was received on the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, and are aware of reports of other packages sent to other locations throughout Spain,” the American embassy said in a press release.
“We’re grateful to Spanish law enforcement for his or her assistance with this matter.”
Police detonated the suspicious envelope discovered on the US embassy early Thursday after cordoning off a large area across the constructing, Spanish officials said.
It’s just the most recent potentially deadly package to be discovered across Spain over the past two days, in line with authorities.
The package sent to the Ukrainian Embassy was addressed to the country’s ambassador to Spain.
An worker who was handling it suffered minor injuries when it suddenly ignited, authorities said.
Spain’s National Court is investigating that incident as a terrorist act.
Meanwhile, police said suspicious letters were also sent to Spain’s Defense Ministry, a European Union satellite center situated on the Torrejón de Ardoz air base outside Madrid and to an arms factory in northeastern Spain that makes grenades sent to Ukraine.
Spanish authorities are attempting to find out who was chargeable for the letters — and if there’s any link to the Ukraine war.
The Russian Embassy in Madrid on Thursday condemned the letter bombs, tweeting that “any threat or terrorist attack, especially those directed at diplomatic missions, are totally condemnable.”
Within the wake of the incidents, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ordered that security be stepped-up in any respect of Ukraine’s foreign embassies and asked his Spanish counterpart for a swift investigation.
An initial assessment indicated the primary five packages were likely sent from inside Spain, in line with the country’s Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez.
Police said all but one in all the letter bombs were disposed of.
The one intact explosive device, which was found on the air base, is being examined as a part of the investigation, Pérez said.
That package was addressed to the director of the European Union Satellite Center — an EU geospatial intelligence body that monitors Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry package was addressed to Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles, while the parcel sent to to the arms factory was addressed to the factory’s director, officials said.
With Post wires