Suspected ETA trio arrested in France

A joint Franco-Spanish police operation has led to the arrest of three suspected key members of the armed Basque separatist group ETA.

The men, who included one of Madrid’s most wanted targets, Alberto Machain Beraz, were captured in the French Alpine ski resort of Le Corbier.

Prime minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero insisted only a hardline stance would remove the threat posed by ETA.

‘‘This is our position, we have always maintained this will allow us to remove this unacceptable and intolerable stain of violence and terror.’‘ the Spanish premier said.

The arrests come after a recent surge in attacks by the terrorists.

Last month ETA claimed responsibility for the murder of two Spanish Civil Guards on the island of Mallorca. A day after a blast at a barracks in Burgos, in northern Spain. That injured 46 people.

Earlier this month, Mallorca was targeted again but fortunately no one was hurt after three small bombs went off.

The men are suspected of supplying ETA’s weapons and explosives.

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tags: ETA, France