ETA had previously placed car bombs in Madrid , the deadliest being the Plaza República Dominicana bombing in July 1986 , which had killed 12 Civil Guards . The Vallecas attack was the third of 1995 . Earlier in the year , ETA had unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate José María Aznar , head of the People 's Party and Leader of the Opposition , who had escaped death due to protection offered by his armoured car . In the second attack in June , ETA had killed a police officer , Jesus Robello . The Vallecas attack came just four days after a meeting of European Union heads of state had taken place in Madrid , marking the end of the Spanish Presidency of the EU
Plaza República Dominicana bombing
Plaza República Dominicana bombing
1995 Vallecas bombing