Fight against terrorism

Guardia Civil arrest an individual for membership of terrorist gang ETA in Guipúzcoa

2018.10.16

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The investigations commenced in 2016, within the framework of the ongoing work being performed by the Guardia Civil in relation to terrorist actions committed by the terrorist gang ETA that have still not been resolved or tried.

These investigations uncovered the fact that in 2002, while in prison for attempted murder by means of a terrorist attack, the detainee managed to set up a stable and secure communications channel from prison with the leadership of the terrorist gang.

Using this channel, the detainee sent information proposing attacks on potential targets. This information was forwarded to the intelligence wing of the leadership of the terrorist gang ETA.

Some of this information was seized in 2003 during the course of the police operation in Saintes (France), which culminated in the arrest of several members of the terrorist gang ETA, including Ainhoa García Montero, one of the leaders of the gang at that time.

The original document, together with other information gathered that led to the arrest was found among the documentation recently handed over by the French authorities to the Spanish authorities as a result of the signing of the so-called "Declaration of intent on the handover of documentation and other effects seized in cases in which the terrorist gang ETA is involved from the French Republic to the Kingdom of Spain" in February 2017.

The investigation and arrest were carried out by officers of the Intelligence Service of the Guardia Civil, under the instruction of Central Investigation Court number 3 and in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office of the National High Court.

The detainee is due to appear before the National High Court within a few hours.

Non official translation