Spate of letter bombs in Spain targets embassies, high-profile officials

A police officer stands at a cordon outside an arms company's building after it received a letter bomb in Zaragoza, Spain, November 30, 2022 in this still image taken from video. FORTA via Reuters TV/Handout via REUTERS

MADRID (Reuters) - Bomb disposal experts defused a letter bomb at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid on Thursday, the sixth such device sent to high-profile targets in a wave that prompted Spain to step up security and vow not to be deterred from supporting Ukraine.

The campaign began with a package sent to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Nov. 24, spurring Madrid to tighten security around public buildings. Since Wednesday, similar devices were also sent to the defence ministry, an air force base, a weapons manufacturer and the Ukrainian embassy - where a security officer was slightly injured.