By John Smith • 05 November 2016 • 13:11
EARLY on the morning of November 5, police in France arrested Mikel Irastorza – said to be the most senior leader of Basque terrorist group ETA who was not in captivity – in the village of Ascain in the Pyrenees.
The operation was undertaken with the full co-operation of the Spanish Government and the Guardia Civil and another couple, a 59-year-old Spanish male and his 56-year-old French partner who were staying at the same property were also arrested, with all three being transferred to a police station in nearby Bayonne.
Although ETA has in the past years rejected its former policy of violent terrorism, the authorities in France and Spain continue to hunt down and arrest senior members of the banned organisation due to their past activities which may have been criminal.
It is probable that the Spanish government will request the extradition of the ETA leader from France so that he may be put on trial in Spain.
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Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
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