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France Arrests Three Eta Suspects

by Barbara McPherson | August 19, 2009 at 05:56 pm

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French police have arrested three Eta(Basque Separatists) suspects in connection with a bombing last month on the island of Mallorca. Two police officers died in the blast.

Rubalcaba said police also uncovered about 20 explosive devices and 42 detonators, and an additional stash of similar material at a hideout in Ferrieres, about 40km from the Spanish border.

He named one of the detained as Alberto Machain Beraza, who has been on a wanted list since a bomb attack last month on the Spanish island of Mallorca in which two police officers died.

The other two were named as Andoni Sarasola and Aitzol Etxaburu. The Spanish authorities believe Etxaburu has ties with Mikel de Garikoitz Aspiazu, a suspected Eta chief arrested in November in France.

Also found in the stashes were fake IDs and computers.
Basque separatists have been agitating for a separate homeland citing their distinct culture and history. There is a terrorist branch - Eta - which has been held responsible for the deaths of over 800 people.

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