On September 9, 2007, Basque separatist group, ETA, publicly announced its intention to continue attacks on Spanish soil as a crucial element to its revived violent campaign for an independent state.
Basque-language newspaper, Gara, published a statement by the group claiming ETA will “continue hitting the structures of the Spanish state on all fronts until it achieves democratic conditions that would allow for the defense of all political projects.”
As we previously reported (Previous Report), in the months following the June 5, 2007, announcement officially ending a 15-month ceasefire, Spanish police have significantly ramped up anti-terrorism efforts, specifically targeting suspected ETA members.
Accordingly, ETA has continued to wage attacks against the Zapatero-led Spanish government. We believe the recent arrests and renewed focus on the terror group will likely continue to result in continued efforts to attack Spain in the near-term.
The first ETA-inspired attack since the ending of the ceasefire occurred on August 24, 2007 (Terror Attack), and the September 9, 2007, announcement will likely result in increased ETA attacks.
ETA Violence Will Continue
In an official statement issued by ETA, the organization announced its intentions to wage a resurgence of attacks against Spain. The armed group asserts its campaign of violence will continue until it achieves its historic goal, an independent Basque state.
In the September 9, 2007, statement ETA vowed to “strike at Spanish state structures on all fronts,” indicating its aim to wage terror attacks on Spanish government officials, installations, dense tourist areas through the use of small scale improvised explosive devices.
Coinciding with the statement, ETA also claimed responsibility for previous bombings throughout Spain, to include high-profile attacks during the 2007 Tour de France. Additional attack claims included detonating a vehicle-born improvised explosive device (IED) outside of military quarters and an explosion of a van in August 2007.
ETA Militants Wage Two Attacks; Pro ETA Rally Occurs
On September 9, 2007, just hours after ETA announced its intention to continue a violent campaign against the Spanish state, on September 9, 2007, suspected ETA militants placed a large car bomb in close proximity to the Defense Ministry office in the northern city of Logrono. The device failed to detonate (Terror Attack).
Bearing the hallmark of an ETA-inspired attack, on the evening of September 9, 2007, ETA militants telephoned a warning to a Basque-language newspaper. Approximately 30 minutes later a secondary device exploded in the capital of Spain’s Rioja region, adjacent to the Basque country.
In a third event, in the Basque city of San Sebastian, Spanish authorities disrupted a demonstration in support of ETA prisoners and subsequently arrested the leader of an amnesty movement. Eight people were injured as a result of clashes with police (Civil Disorder).
More of the Same Expected
As we previously reported, we believe future ETA-inspired attacks are likely. ETA’s announcement of a unilateral “permanent” ceasefire in March 2006 initially elevated hopes for an end to the nearly 40 years of ETA violence. However, the June 5, 2007, announcement concluding the ceasefire coupled with the September 9, 2007 vow to continue attacks against the Spanish state, has likely reinvigorated ETA and Basque independence supporters.
We believe ETA will continue to seek to retaliate against the Spanish government. To this end, we will see continued terror plots aimed at sparking chaos with less emphasis on civilian casualties and increased targeting of government installations and tourist areas.
Additionally, as we witnessed on August 24, 2007, the first ETA-claimed attack since the ending of the ceasefire, the September 9, 2007, announcement will likely result in increased ETA attacks.
