The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned a bomb attack by Basque terrorists targeting a number of media networks in the city of Bilbao. A van charged with explosive material was blown up outside the headquarters of the Basque public radio television station EiTB, a building also housing number of other media. There were no injuries reported.

"Just on the day when the IFJ has announced how journalism has suffered from violence around the world this year, the Basque terrorists of ETA have shown their contempt for media and free expression," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.

This is the second attack in 2008 carried out by ETA against mass media in Bilbao, says the IFJ. On June 8 a bomb blast caused destruction at the offices and printing offices of the daily newspaper El Correo. Other media offices hit by today's blast were Deia, Antena 3, Expansión, El Mundo and Onda Cero.

"We strongly support the condemnation of this attack by our Spanish colleagues," added White. "They are determined to carry on reporting freely despite these threats."

The IFJ says that in recent years several journalists have been killed by ETA and many more continue to work either under escort or, for most of them, with no special protection despite daily death threats.

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide