Bomb blast injures two in Spain

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- A local official from the main opposition Socialist party in Spain's northern Basque region and her bodyguard have been injured in a bomb blast, according to CNN's partner network in Spain, CNN+.

Spanish political leaders and the local news media immediately blamed the attack on the Basque separatist group, ETA, which was also blamed for a car bomb last week that injured another Socialist party leader.

No one has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack, which happened shortly after 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) in Portugalete, near Bilbao, the largest Basque city.

One senior government official, Enrique Villar called the attackers "cowards."

The injured were identified as Esther Cabezudo, deputy mayor of Portugalete, and her bodyguard, Inaki Torres, according to CNN+.

She and her bodyguard were rushed to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, medical sources told CNN+.

The attack occurred near the city hall, where Cabezudo has an office. CNN+ is reporting heavy damage to the area.

ETA has fought 33 years for an independent Basque homeland and is blamed for about 800 deaths.

Spanish and French police have arrested dozens of ETA activists in recent months, which security officials say has reduced the group's operational capacity.

Most of the attacks blamed on ETA this year, which have not claimed any lives, have been centred in the Basque region, where officials believe the group continues to have an infrastructure.