tagged w/ Euskadi Ta Askatasuna
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The ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA or in English: Basque Homeland and Freedom) stored nearly 1,500 kilos (3307 pounds) of explosives
Madrid. EFE. Portuguese security forces seized about 1,500 kilos of explosives in a house in the village of Óbidos discovered two days ago and supposedly used by ETA as well as in several sections of Madrid, Cadiz and the town of San Fernando, said yesterday the Ministry of Interior Spanish.
In the house, about 125 km north of Lisbon, were found several computers and material being analyzed and that allows to identify and Oier Andoni Gomez Fernandez Cengotitabengoa Mielgo as alleged ETA members who occupied and which are in flight.
Law enforcement officials have found in the garage 1330 kilos of ammonium nitrate, a substance used by terrorists for making ammonal-distributed in twelve cans and four sacks.
In addition, 75 kilograms of potassium nitrate in three sacks, 40 liters of sulfuric acid, PETN, and nitromethane, aluminum powder, a booster used by the terrorist group in recent years to manufacture amonitol, an explosive with a destructive capacity.
Although early reports yesterday quantified the amount in half ton of explosives found in Portugal, the portfolio of Home Affairs yesterday rose almost 1,500 kilos of explosives seized.
Portuguese police have detonated most of the material found in a controlled area.
In the house were two laptops, a folder with documents related to the house and two identification documents, a camera, a mobile phone, handwritten papers on integrated circuits printed with the symbol of the terrorist band and a bag with a CD and paper manuscript.
(translated from: http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2010/febrero/07/mundo1929658.html)The ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA or in English: Basque Homeland and Freedom)... more
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The region known as Basque country encompasses a relatively small plot of land on the Spanish French border. The Basques are a people that, from the beginning of recorded history have been independent of Spanish or French rule. That is obviously no longer the case and has not been for a few centuries as the Spanish Republic has eroded their once sacred and all encompassing Fueros, or traditional laws. In the past, the fiercely independent Basques were kept under control bordering governments with the promise of self rule. After the Spanish Civil War that was more or less demolished.
Now the Basque language is eroding and it's culture is dying. In retaliation some Basques have resorted to violence primarily from a group of Basque ultranationalists called Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA. This movement has been counter productive to the Basque cause and is recognized by the EU, US, and Britain as a terrorist organization. Many Basque leaders have been banned from running for public office due to accusations that they are associated with the extremist group.
The Basque struggle is very much a liberal one and a valid one. It is sad that a small number of Basques have resorted to violence. But their story is related to all oppressed people around the world. Under the guise of "anti-terror" Spain has stripped many Basque leaders of position and authority and even imprisoned people for voicing views. Spain has even silenced a major Basque newspaper Egunkaria. Even more alarming is evidence that Egunkaria staffers were tortured.
Spain seems to be enacting systematic conquering of the Basque people, not trying to make peace with them.The region known as Basque country encompasses a relatively small plot of land on the... more
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At least seven people have been injured in a car bomb outside a police station in Ondarroa, in the Basque region of northern Spain.
Three policemen were among those hurt. Earlier, another car bomb exploded in the outskirts of the regional capital Vitoria but no-one was injured. Basque separatist group Eta phoned in a warning before the Vitoria blast. The attacks come at a time of increased turbulence in Basque politics, the BBC's Steve Kingstone, in Madrid, says. Spain's supreme court recently declared two Basque nationalist parties illegal because of alleged links to Eta.
The first car bomb exploded next to the headquarters of the Caja Vital Kutxa bank near the Basque regional capital, Vitoria, a regional Interior Ministry official said. It caused damage but no-one was injured. Several hours later, another car bomb detonated outside a police station in the port town of Ondarroa. Three police officers and four civilians were treated for minor injuries, including cuts and ear damage. Officials said two suspected bombers parked a car close to the outside wall of the station, threw a Molotov cocktail to attract attention and then detonated the car bomb.
Eta has claimed responsibility for killing more than 800 people in its four-decade campaign to set up an independent state straddling northern Spain and south-western France. At least seven people have been injured in a car bomb outside a police station in... more
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A Basque separatist convicted of killing 25 people has been freed from jail in Spain after serving 21 years. The release of Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos has sparked outrage in Spain.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke of his "contempt" for the former Eta militant, but said his government had to respect the law. De Juana Chaos was sentenced to more than 3,000 years in 1987, but under the penal code then in force, the maximum term he could serve was 30 years. He qualified for early release in 2004 but was given a further term for threatening behaviour. De Juana Chaos took part in a string of Eta attacks, including one of the group's deadliest - a Madrid car-bombing in 1986 which killed 12 members of the Guardia Civil police force.
In recent years he carried out several hunger strikes to protest against his treatment by the authorities. Mr Zapatero said De Juana Chaos "generates a perfectly understandable feeling of contempt" among all citizens "and of course the head of the government".
"But we must respect the law," the prime minister added. The group has killed more than 800 people in its four-decade campaign to set up an independent state straddling northern Spain and south-western France. The release of De Juana Chaos came 40 years to the day after Eta carried out its first targeted killing. A Basque separatist convicted of killing 25 people has been freed from jail in Spain... more
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Three bombs have exploded in Spain, with at least two believed to have been planted by Basque separatist group ETA. No injuries were reported following the blasts in the north of the country. One bomb exploded outside a bank in Getxo, damaging a cash dispenser and breaking windows. Officials said the homemade device packed into a gasoline tin went off without warning at about 5am. Five hours later, an anonymous caller said ETA had planted four bombs on beaches in Laredo, Ris and Noja as well as at a golf course close to Noja. Police cordoned off the towns and a device exploded near Laredo's beach at around 12:15 pm. It went off on the seafront promenade in the Cantabrian resort. Later in the day a second bomb exploded in Lardeo. The most recent attack by the armed Basque separatist group happened on July 4. The organisation, which is fighting for independence in the Basque region, carried out a bomb attack against a telecommunications centre.Three bombs have exploded in Spain, with at least two believed to have been planted by... more
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