The Basque separatist group ETA said today it will end its decades-long, bloody campaign for a Basque homeland in a portion of Spain and France. The ETA announcement was published on the website of Gara, a newspaper that the group has used to convey messages in the past.
ETA, listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union, Spain and the United States, is blamed for more than 800 deaths in its long fight for an independent Basque homeland to be carved out of a section of northern Spain and southwestern France.
The group had announced a unilateral "permanent" cease-fire last January, raising hopes in Spain that an end might be near to the decades of ETA car bombings and point-blank shootings. Ref. CNN
Spain arrests alleged Islamist militant wanted by US, Interpol:
Police in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia have arrested an alleged Islamist militant wanted by the US, Ali Charef Damache, Reuters reported. Damache, who has dual Algerian and Irish nationality, was wanted by the US and Interpol for alleged crimes of conspiracy to provide support for terrorists Ref. Source 6r
Spanish police: Van plows into Barcelona crowd, causes injuries. Police in Barcelona say a white van has mounted a sidewalk and struck several people in the city's Las Ramblas district -- an area popular with tourists. Ref. USAToday.