Spain says ETA suspects arrested were an armed commando prepared for terrorist action

Spain says ETA suspects arrested were an armed commando prepared for terrorist action
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By - Jun 23, 2009 - 4:17 PM
An Interior Ministry official has ruled out any connection between the explosives found and the fatal car bomb attack in the Basque Country last week

Ainara Vázquez, Patxi Uranga and Olatz Lasagabaster - EFE

More details have been released on the three suspected ETA terrorists arrested in Guipúzcoa in the early hours of Tuesday. The Interior Ministry said the three formed an ‘armed commando’ which had not yet begun its terrorist activity, but was prepared to take action immediately.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Secretary of State for Security, Antonio Camacho, described the arrests as ‘important’, and classed the National Police operation ordered by National Court judge Baltasar Garzón as a preventive move which has spared ‘pain and suffering’.

Four property searches took place in Usurbil, Lasarte, Astigarraga and San Sebastián, where officers found 75 kilos of explosive material. The Secretary of State said the explosives found were not however connected to that used by ETA in car bomb attacks, such as the fatal attack in the Basque Country last Friday which claimed the life of a National Police Inspector. He also ruled out a link to the recent attacks on the AVE high speed train line under construction in the Basque Country.

Documentation found in the property searches links the detainees to the terrorist organisation, including ETA propaganda materials and a manual on street violence. A number of computers were also seized.

One of the three is named by El Mundo as a reserve candidate on the ANV party’s list in Astigarraga for the 2007 municipal election, Ainara Vázquez. The party’s list for the town was one of those banned from taking part in the election. The other two taken into custody are Patxi Uranga and Olatz Lasagabaster who, with Vázquez, made up the third ETA cell to be arrested in recent months before they were able to carry out any attacks.

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