I only know of this because I know a middle-aged Spaniard who IS mortified and reported to me of OTHER Spaniards who did not want to back down.
I'm here and it was that coupled with the immediate implied ETA connection. I think if Aznar had responded more like Bush, with cojones and will, he would have won easily. In the end, it was Aznar's government infrastructure which caught and/or killed them.
Well, maybe they ought to be able to own guns! THat may help.