Two car bombs exploded in beach resorts earlier this month. On March 17 a car bomb exploded in the coastal town of Rosas, in the Catalonia region, killing a police officer. Hours later police in Gandia, near Valencia, deactivated a second car bomb.
Tourism is Spain's biggest industry.
It received more than 48 million foreign visitors last year, making it the world's number three tourist destination after France and the United States. The United Kingdom responded to the ETA threat by issuing a warning to its citizens travelling to Spain. The Foreign Office posted a warning on its Internet web site. British nationals, residents and visitors throughout Spain should therefore be alert to the situation and report anything of a suspicious nature, including bags or other objects, to the police. Britain's largest holiday company, Thomson, also warned customers to be vigilant and said it was monitoring the situation closely.