Non-Subscriber Extract
Spaniards protest after policeman's death
06 December 2007
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More than 5,000 people rallied in central Madrid on 3 December to protest the killing in France of a Spanish policeman by suspected members of Basque separatist group Homeland and Freedom (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna: ETA). |
The shooting, which left another policeman in a coma and reportedly brain dead, took place in the French resort town of Capbreton. The two officers were on a routine anti-terrorism surveillance operation with French police when they stopped for coffee and found themselves a few tables away from three suspected ETA members. Both parties recognised each other and the policemen were shot as they left the bar following an altercation in the car park.
FORECAST |
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The shooting of the two policemen indicates that, while ETA may attempt to avoid civilian casualties, it has little compunction about killing members of the security forces, and the group retains the ability and willingness to kill. ETA is likely to have cells remaining in Spain and a fresh attack cannot be ruled out. With a general election just three months away, the government will be hoping that the perpetrators of the attack will be apprehended in short order, to underline the Spanish and French police's successes in dealing with the terrorist group. |