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Key Eta leader 'held in France' | Key Eta leader 'held in France' |
(10 minutes later) | |
One of the top leaders of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in north-western France, the Spanish interior ministry has said. | One of the top leaders of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in north-western France, the Spanish interior ministry has said. |
Ibon Gogeascotxea was arrested with two other suspected Eta members in a French and Spanish operation in Normandy. | |
A militant group fighting for an independent Basque homeland, Eta has been blamed for more than 820 deaths during its 41-year campaign in Spain. | A militant group fighting for an independent Basque homeland, Eta has been blamed for more than 820 deaths during its 41-year campaign in Spain. |
Eta called a short-lived truce in 2006, but broke it in December of that year. | Eta called a short-lived truce in 2006, but broke it in December of that year. |
Guggenheim plot | |
The Spanish interior ministry said Ibon Gogeascotxea was the "most senior" member of Eta and its military chief. | The Spanish interior ministry said Ibon Gogeascotxea was the "most senior" member of Eta and its military chief. |
The arrests took place close to the small Normandy village of Cahan. | |
Ibon Gogeascotxea was born in 1965 and has been on the run since 1997 after members of the Eta group's Katu cell allegedly tried to kill the king when he attended the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. | |
The cell is also wanted for attacks on Burgos and Majorca. | |
French and Spanish authorities have maintained close cooperation to try to track down Eta members. | French and Spanish authorities have maintained close cooperation to try to track down Eta members. |
Four suspected members of Eta were arrested in Portugal and France in January. | Four suspected members of Eta were arrested in Portugal and France in January. |
Three weeks ago Portuguese police also seized half a tonne of explosives at a house they said was being used as a base by Eta. | Three weeks ago Portuguese police also seized half a tonne of explosives at a house they said was being used as a base by Eta. |
Although there have been a number of arrests of leaders, Eta has remained active - the group killed three Spanish police officers using car bombs in 2009. | Although there have been a number of arrests of leaders, Eta has remained active - the group killed three Spanish police officers using car bombs in 2009. |
In December, Spain raised its terror alert level to two on a four-point scale. | In December, Spain raised its terror alert level to two on a four-point scale. |
Eta is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the US. |