Al Qaeda Network For Syrian Jihadists Discovered In Spain

Spain Uncovers al Qaeda Network For Syrian Jihadists -- Long War Journal

In raids conducted earlier today, Spanish authorities arrested eight suspected members of an al Qaeda network who are allegedly involved in training, funding, and facilitating travel for jihadist fighters to Syria. The network is based in the Spanish territory of Ceuta and in the city of Fnideq in neighboring Morocco.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the names or nationalities of those arrested, who are all Spanish citizens, the BBC reported. The network has apparently funneled "dozens" of fighters to Syria, where some have taken part in suicide attacks and others have joined training camps. The network recruited fighters from various parts of Spain as well as Morocco and Ceuta, which has a population of 80,000, half of whom are Muslim.

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More News On The Uncovering Of An Al Qaeda Network For Syrian Jihadists In Spain

Spain arrests 'Syria jihadist suspects' in Ceuta -- BBC
Spain detains eight accused of sending fighters to Syria -- Reuters
Spain raids Al-Qaeda ring sending fighters to Syria -- Gloabl Post/AFP
Spanish police arrest 8 suspected of recruiting fighters for ‘Syria jihad’ -- RT
Spain Arrests Eight Suspected of Links to al-Qaida -- Voice of America
Spain arrests eight suspects linked to al Qaeda -- CNN

Spain Warns Of Big Attack By Separatists ETA Soon

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in cities across Spain Sunday, including Bilbao
in the Basque Country, to protest the ETA bombing. (January 14, 2007)

From Reuters:

MADRID (Reuters) - Authorities in Spain's Basque Country fear separatist guerrilla group ETA will attempt a big attack soon and have ordered police to increase security measures, police said on Wednesday.

The rare warning, contained in an internal police memorandum later published on the police website, follows a spate of small bombings blamed on ETA at seaside resorts that are timed to hurt Spain's tourism sector during its high season.

They said Wednesday's warning was based on information gleaned after the arrest of 10 suspected members of ETA's "Vizcaya cell" on July 22.

Police said on Saturday ETA were planning an attack against police at a fair in the Basque town of Getxo set for Thursday, and they feared the group would now attempt a similar attack.

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More News On Spain And the ETA

Spain warns of big attack by separatists ETA soon -- Swiss Info
Surge in Eta bombing campaign feared -- Irish Times
ETA blamed as bomb scares tourists in southern Spain - Summary -- Earth Times

My Comment: By all analysis the ETA separatist movement in Spain should be dead. It has little if any popular support, the region has a considerable amount of autonomy from the central government, and economic opportunities abound.

Unfortunately, ETA terrorism proves the point that you only need a few dozen dedicated followers and a few thousand sympathizers to completely paralyze or disrupt a society. For the Basques, it has always been a fear of assimilation and the belief that it is only through independence that some form of security to their cultural traditions can be secured.

Because of this strong underlying belief, terrorism will always exist in Spain. Police enforcement by the Basque community itself is the only way to ensure that this type of activity will not get out of hand.

Five Eta Bombs Start Summer Terror Season

ETA Video

From The Telegraph:

The Basque separatist group Eta signalled the start of a summer terror campaign yesterday when it detonated four bombs at tourist resorts and another at a Barclays Bank in northern Spain.

One woman was injured and another treated for shock following the co-ordinated attacks which were seen by the Spanish authorities as a signal of intent during the holiday season.

The first device detonated shortly after 5am outside a branch of Barclays in Neguri, near the Basque city of Bilbao, popular with British visitors.

The bomb shattered windows at the front of the building and blackened the entrance to the bank, damaging the cash dispenser machine.

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More News On The ETA And Spain

Five blasts in northern Spain, ETA blamed -- Reuters
Basque separatists bomb Spanish tourist resorts: police -- AFP
Spain Rocked By Bomb Blasts -- SKY News

My Comment: The bombing season is starting late this year. The ETA is very low level in their activity, but they have explicitly stated that with time the violence will be getting worse.