ETA explosives cache discovered in the French Basque Country

ETA explosives cache discovered in the French Basque Country
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By m.p - Aug 14, 2007 - 7:09 AM

The three ETA activists arrested in France on 26th July (L-R): Galder Biotz, Juan Cruz Maiza Artola and Iker Iparraguirre. Photo – Interior Ministry.

The garage in an underground car park in Biarritz contained at least two bombs, explosives materials, and dozens of detonators

Police in France have discovered an explosives cache believed to belong to the ETA terrorist organisation in a rented garage in an underground car park in Biarritz, in the French Basque Country. The initial discovery was made by the owner of the garage, who immediately informed police.

EFE reports that officers found a large quantity of the explosive known as penthrite, together with drums containing between 30 and 40 kilos of sulphur and chloratite, also used to manufacture explosives. There were also three firearms, timing devices, 150 detonators, detonating cord and at least two bombs of the type used for car bomb attacks.

The garage had been rented out for six months from 1st February, with the total payment made in advance.

The find comes after six ETA arrests in France last month, including the terrorists’ suspected Logistics Chief, Juan Cruz Maiza Artola, and the head of the terrorists’ special operations base in France, José Antonio Araníbar. A van loaded with 140 kilos of explosives was seized in one of the two operations.

There was news from Europa Press last night that the man who rented the premises could be Maiza Artola, according to photographic identification by the garage owner. The news agency quotes sources close to the investigation saying that Araníbar was put in charge of its content and was due to hand over the arsenal to an ETA commando to be used for an attack in Spain. He was arrested in early July.

In the Basque Country, meanwhile, there were Molotov cocktail attacks last night on the local justice of the peace building and seven bank cash machines in Amorebieta, Vizcaya province, where the ETA terrorist, Sabin Euba, also known as Pelopintxo, died of cancer on 5th August. Two of three demonstrations planned in his tribute were stopped from going ahead.

There was other violence in San Sebastián last night, where the offices of the PNV Basque Nationalist Party were attacked, and in Vitoria, where a City Hall vehicle was set on fire.

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