Suspected Eta chief arrested in France
The suspected military leader of Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in France, according to police sources. Anti-terrorist police held Mikel Karrera Sarobe and two other suspected Eta members in a raid in the south-western city of Bayonne on Thursday morning.
Issued on:
Karrera Sarobe was identified as Eta’s new military leader on a revised most-wanted list that was issued by Spanish police on 16 March. Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba hailed Thursday's arrests as a "very significant" operation.
Increased co-operation between Madrid and Paris in the past two years has led to the arrest of five Eta leaders in France, which the group has used as a base to launch attacks over the border. More than 30 suspected members of the armed movement have been arrested in 2010.
Eta has fought a long campaign for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and south-western France. Classified as a terrorist organisation by both the European Union and the United States, it was blamed for the killing of a French police officer in March.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe