This undated photo shows Jurdan Martitegi, suspected to be the top military leader of the armed Basque separatist organisation ETA. Security forces in France on Saturday arrested Martitegi, Spanish national radio said. (AFP/HO)
Posted on 04/18/2009 5:34:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MADRID (AFP) – Security forces in France on Saturday arrested the suspected military chief of ETA, the third top leader of the Basque separatist organisation to be captured in the last six months, Spanish national radio said.
Jurdan Martitegi was detained along with two other ETA suspects in the vicinity of the southern French city of Perpignan in an operation carried out in cooperation with Spanish security forces, the radio said, quoting anti-terrorist sources.
The French interior ministry said three ETA suspects were arrested in the village of Montauriol, but it did not identify them.
Spanish news reports said Martitegi confessed his identity to the arresting officers, who also seized three guns and a car with false number plates.
The radio said Spanish security forces detained a further four ETA suspects in different parts of the Basque Country hours later in related operations.
The mayor of Montaurial, Patrick Mauran, said the three were arrested around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) near the village church after arriving hours earlier for what appeared to be a meeting.
"None of them lived in the village," he told AFP.
The Basque news agency Vasco Press said Martitegi, 28, had been a member of ETA's most active unit, the Viscaya cell, which was dismantled by Spanish police last July with the arrest of several members.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
This undated photo shows Jurdan Martitegi, suspected to be the top military leader of the armed Basque separatist organisation ETA. Security forces in France on Saturday arrested Martitegi, Spanish national radio said. (AFP/HO)
Has Obama apologized for France’s actions yet?
Ping.
Another community organizer behind bars.
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