Bomb explodes outside Spanish police barracks

A car bomb has exploded outside a police barracks in the Northern Spanish city of Burgos.

The attack, blamed on Basque separatist group ETA, slightly injured 46 people and caused the barrack's facade to collapse.

The bomb detonated at around 4:30am local time outside a barracks of the paramilitary Guardia Civil, where the families of officers were staying. The majority of the injuries were caused by flying glass and 38 people required hospital treatment. Most of the 48 injured suffered only minor cuts and bruises, said emergency services.

"All the windows are broken. It's very damaged so it's almost a miracle no one was hurt more seriously," said an emergency services spokesman.

ETA has been held responsible for the bombing despite the lack of the group's trademark phone call before detonating explosives. The separatist group is thought to be responsible for the deaths of around 800 people across Spain in a long campaign of attacks. The organisation, typically attacking police and army targets, aims to achieve an independent Basque homeland in Northern Spain and Southern France.

ETA was most recently blamed for the death of police inspector in Bilbao when his car was booby-trapped. In April, Spanish police arrested Jurdan Martitegi, a suspected top commander of ETA, along with 18 other members in June and July.