Highlights
– Estimated strength between 50-200 members
– Sophisticated organization and structure
– Lack Internet presence and savvy
– Public support continues to wane
As we previously reported, as a result of four decades of war with the ruling Spanish government, ETA has killed upwards of 800 persons and injured scores of others (Previous Report). Operating primarily in Basque autonomous regions, ETA enjoys support from like-minded organizations around the globe, receiving aid from countries and diaspora in Latin America, Africa, and North America.
At an estimated 50-200 members, ETA has received training, monetary aid, and at times, sanctuary for its members from nation’s across the globe. Suspected ETA members have been detained and arrested in Canada and Mexico (Previous Report). Recent arrests of ETA militants in North America warrant significant concern as they indicate ETA’s ability to re-locate and network globally. Specifically, ETA militants have demonstrated their ability to acquire false identification documents for the purpose of traveling overseas and operating in neighboring countries to include France and Portugal.
Organization and Structure
ETA is extremely secretive and maintains a sophisticated structure composed of several loosely tied factions, each maintaining an individual identity apart from the main organization. These factions or cells are believed to operate independently of each other, thus creating a strong terrorist organization that presents a tough challenge to Spanish security forces efforts to dismantle it. Operatives are highly skilled and often operate completely underground.
ETA regularly targets Spanish Government officials, members of the military and security forces, and moderate Basques for assassination. In addition, the group has carried out numerous bombings against Government facilities and economic targets, including seasonal campaigns against tourist resorts.
In January 2008, arrests confirmed French authorities’ suspicions that ETA had created a “parallel organization” to perpetrate further attacks. The discovery of a bomb-making facility in Cahors, France in September 2007 and the arrest of those responsible for the December 2006 Barajas airport bombing, members of a so-called Elurra cell, provide proof of ETA’s regrouping and rebuilding during the previous nine-month ceasefire. Headed by Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, the Elurra cell is believed to be at the center of the “parallel ETA” group. It is believe the new group is likewise comprised of independently functioning, self-sufficient units.
Capabilities
Despite its lengthy battle for independence from Spain, ETA’s capabilities as a formidable terrorist organization pale in comparison to Islamist extremists waging terror across the globe and the region. Shying away from large-scale terrorist attacks waged against mass public transit areas and facilities, ETA prefers small-scale, improved explosive devices (IEDs), placed in conspicuous local facilities, such as banks and government offices. Additionally, ETA frequently contacts authorities via telephone to warn of an impending attack. These warnings provide a brief timeframe for the expected explosion as well as the location of the attack. Consider ETA hallmarks, these attacks inflict minimal casualties, rarely resulting in death.
Further, ETA continues to utilize a Basque language newspaper, Gara, as its sole intermediary between itself and the Spanish public. By placing written notices in the newspaper, ETA employs the publication to announce its intentions, capabilities, demands, and warnings of future attacks, to the general population.
Despite waging an intense campaign in today’s increasingly technical world, ETA appears behind the game, conspicuously lacking resources, skills, and an appropriate knowledgebase of the Internet. To this end, unlike other terrorist organizations, and particularly the increasingly growing jihadist movement, ETA maintains no known Internet discussion forums.
Public Support Wanes
As we previously reported, in the wake of renewed ETA –inspired violence in the Basque region, public support for the independence movement continues to decrease (Previous Report). Basque residents have grown weary of ETA’s persistent campaign of violence, and to date, unsuccessful, efforts to separate the region from Spain to establish an independent ethnic Basque homeland.
