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Basque separatist suspects arrested in France, Madrid reports

Oct 11, 2009, 10:48 GMT

Madrid - French police have seized three suspected members of the Basque separatist organization ETA in southern France, the Spanish Interior Ministry disclosed Sunday. It said one suspect was arrested on Saturday near the city of Pau close to the French-Spanish border, while two others were seized on Sunday near Montpellier as they were driving in a car with false license plates. One of those arrested Sunday was believed to be the right-hand man of ETA military boss Garikoiotz Aspiazu, who was captured last year. In addition, police discovered a weapons cache suspected of belonging to ETA. Spanish police also discovered a further ETA bomb materials cache on Saturday near the city of Alicante. Police seized 10 kilograms of explosives, timers and explosive caps after receiving a tip from a hiker. ETA last carried out a series of bomb attacks on the popular holiday island of Mallorca, killing two policemen. ETA, fighting for a separate Basque state, is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States and blamed for more than 820 deaths since 1968.

Europe News

Basque separatist suspects arrested in France, Madrid reports

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