Spain soccer fans defy ETA bombers

Two bombs exploded just hours before 75,000 people crowded the Bernabeu

MADRID, Spain -- Spanish soccer fans defied Basque bombers who struck just before Real Madrid played Barcelona in the semi-final of the European Champions Cup.

Many in the 75,000 crowd at the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium waved banners saying: "No to ETA."

A car bomb had exploded near the stadium on Wednesday, injuring 17 people hours before Real Madrid advanced to the European Cup final with a 1-1 draw, winning 3-1 on aggregate. (Full story)

Police had cordoned off the area close to the ground after receiving a telephoned warning in the name of the Basque separatist group ETA.

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The match started on schedule, and 75,000 spectators filled the stadium.

"ETA were looking to destroy the fiesta but we won't let them," Real Madrid spokesman Joaquin Maroto told Spanish National Radio. "Fortunately there were no fatalities, so we're going to go ahead with the match."

"Nothing and no one can stop the government and Spanish society from its stated aim of destroying terrorism," Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said in reaction to the bombing during a visit to Washington.

Traffic in the vicinity of the stadium had resumed about two hours after the blast, which took place in the heart of Madrid's financial district.

Most offices and shops in the area were closed for the observance of Labour Day.

Both teams, who trained at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night, were staying at hotels in the city centre before the game.

"If it had happened on the other side of the street it could have been a massacre as there were hundreds of people about for the game," said Maroto, in his car close to the stadium when the bomb went off.

A second car bomb, preceded by another call, went off a half hour later about one mile away. No injuries were reported in that explosion.

The blasts followed the arrest of 11 members of the ETA-linked Batasuna political party, which the Spanish government wants to outlaw.

Ten days ago a car bomb blamed on Basque separatist group ETA damaged buildings and cars in the area but caused no serious injuries.

ETA has killed more than 800 people since 1968 in its drive for an independent state in Basque areas of northern Spain and south-western France.