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Josu Ternera, leader of Eta Basque rebels, arrested in France | Josu Ternera, leader of Eta Basque rebels, arrested in France |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The political leader of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in the French Alps after 17 years on the run, officials say. | The political leader of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in the French Alps after 17 years on the run, officials say. |
In a joint French-Spanish police operation, Josu Ternera - whose real name is José Antonio Urrutikoetxea - was arrested in Sallanches. | In a joint French-Spanish police operation, Josu Ternera - whose real name is José Antonio Urrutikoetxea - was arrested in Sallanches. |
He is accused over several Eta killings. | He is accused over several Eta killings. |
Eta, which waged a violent campaign for Basque independence for more than 40 years, said in 2018 it was disbanding. | Eta, which waged a violent campaign for Basque independence for more than 40 years, said in 2018 it was disbanding. |
The group killed more than 800 people during its campaign of violence before declaring a ceasefire in 2011. | The group killed more than 800 people during its campaign of violence before declaring a ceasefire in 2011. |
Reports say Ternera is seriously ill and Spanish police tipped off their French colleagues that he was on his way to hospital, triggering his arrest. | Reports say Ternera is seriously ill and Spanish police tipped off their French colleagues that he was on his way to hospital, triggering his arrest. |
Spanish prosecutors allege that Josu Ternera was involved in a car bomb attack outside a Civil Guard barracks in the northern city of Zaragoza in December 1987, which killed 11 people, including five children. | Spanish prosecutors allege that Josu Ternera was involved in a car bomb attack outside a Civil Guard barracks in the northern city of Zaragoza in December 1987, which killed 11 people, including five children. |
From 1989 to 2000 he was held in French and Spanish jails. At the time of his disappearance in 2002, he was a free man – but failed to answer a court summons over the Zaragoza attack. He had not been seen since. | |
He is now expected to be imprisoned in France, because last June a French court sentenced him to eight years for leading a "terrorist" group. | He is now expected to be imprisoned in France, because last June a French court sentenced him to eight years for leading a "terrorist" group. |
But Spain is likely to request his extradition over the Zaragoza attack and alleged involvement in other crimes, including the 1980 murder of a Michelin manager, Luis María Hergueta. | But Spain is likely to request his extradition over the Zaragoza attack and alleged involvement in other crimes, including the 1980 murder of a Michelin manager, Luis María Hergueta. |
Eta began its violent campaign in 1968, during the Franco military dictatorship, and is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union. | Eta began its violent campaign in 1968, during the Franco military dictatorship, and is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union. |
Ternera is also on the US sanctions list, as a designated "terrorist". | Ternera is also on the US sanctions list, as a designated "terrorist". |
Eta disbanded | Eta disbanded |
In an audio announcement in May 2018, Ternera said Eta had "completely dismantled all of its structures" and would "no longer express political positions, promote initiatives or interact with other actors". | In an audio announcement in May 2018, Ternera said Eta had "completely dismantled all of its structures" and would "no longer express political positions, promote initiatives or interact with other actors". |
He said former members would "continue the struggle for a reunited, independent, socialist, Basque-speaking and non-patriarchal Basque Country". | He said former members would "continue the struggle for a reunited, independent, socialist, Basque-speaking and non-patriarchal Basque Country". |
Josu Ternera was elected to the Basque regional parliament, despite being prosecuted by the Spanish authorities. | Josu Ternera was elected to the Basque regional parliament, despite being prosecuted by the Spanish authorities. |
Spain's Supreme Court had ordered him to appear before a judge in November 2002 but he never turned up. At that point an international arrest warrant was issued, and Interpol listed him among the most wanted fugitives. | Spain's Supreme Court had ordered him to appear before a judge in November 2002 but he never turned up. At that point an international arrest warrant was issued, and Interpol listed him among the most wanted fugitives. |
His last public appearance was in October 2002, when he spoke to journalists with a Basque separatist ally, Arnaldo Otegi, at the UN building in Geneva, Spain's La Vanguardia daily reports. | His last public appearance was in October 2002, when he spoke to journalists with a Basque separatist ally, Arnaldo Otegi, at the UN building in Geneva, Spain's La Vanguardia daily reports. |
Sources at Spain's interior ministry are quoted as saying Ternera has been living near Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, an Alpine village near Mont Blanc. | Sources at Spain's interior ministry are quoted as saying Ternera has been living near Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, an Alpine village near Mont Blanc. |