News

On Friday morning, ETA killed Eduardo Puelles Garcia, an inspector of Spanish National police, in the district of Ollargan in Arrigorriaga (Biscay) with a magnetic car bomb placed under his vehicle. The device exploded at 9.05 am. The victim, of 49 years and originally from Barakaldo and resident of Arrigorriaga, was a member of the Police''s Information Brigade, who worked in the struggle against the Basque armed group. He is the first fatal victim killed at the hands of ETA this year.

The victim was inside the vehicle when it exploded. His wife and two children, however, escaped the blast but were taken to hospital in nearby Basurto to be treated for shock.

According to news agency EFE, the bomb contained 2 kilos of explosives. Seemingly it had been placed next to the petrol tank of the policeman''s car.

The explosion subsequently caused fire to spread to at least five other cars, but was quickly put out. The vehicle was parked in a car-park in the Santa Isabel district of Arrigorriaga when the bomb that had been placed underneath it exploded.

The blast erupted at the moment that Puelles, having started up the vehicle, set the car in motion. His body, which remained completely charred within the car, has been taken to a forensic institute in Bilbao for examination.

A resident of the area who was in the car park at the time was witness to the explosion: "He started up the vehicle and went to leave (the car park) and suddenly the car exploded. The only thing we could hear were screams and more screams," he said.

A wake will be held for Puelles on Friday evening at a government office in Biscay, while the funeral will take place at the San José de la Montaña church in Bilbao from 1pm.

Repulsive act

President Patxi Lopez called on the Basque people to participate in a demonstration against ETA on the evening of Saturday 20th June at 6pm under the maxim ''For freedom, ETA no, Askatasuna''. The march will start from the Sagrado Corazon square, go through the Gran Vía, Circular Square, Buenos Aires street and end up at the city''s town hall.

After making this appeal, the President visited, together with Rodolfo Ares, the site of the bombing where he was joined by the Deputy General of Biscay, Jose Luis Bilbao, and the President of the General Council, Ana Madariaga. Later, accompanied by his Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, he attended the hospital in Basurto where the victim''s widow and children were being attended.

Condemnation in Arrigorriaga

The council of Arrigorriaga, meanwhile, has openly denounced the attack and unanimously approved a motion of "categorical" condemnation of the murder of Puelles Garcia as well as expressing their "total contempt" for ETA.

During the motion, all the municipal groups (PNV, EA, EB, PSE and PP) were agreed and pledged, in front of a packed parliament, their condolences and solidarity to the family of the assassinated policeman and to the state security forces.

They went on to stress that those who killed Eduardo Puelles "do not represent anybody; in a democracy the will of the people is manifest in the electoral process," and not in attacks.

The council of Arrigorriaga also convened a demonstration for Friday 19th June at 8pm in the area of Abusu, close to the attack, where a centre has also been opened to attend to those injured or affected by the bomb that killed Puelles.

Basque parliament and government

The Basque Government Interior councillor, Rodolfo Ares, appeared before parliament to express his most "ardent condemnation" of the attack, also lending his solidarity, warmth and support to the family, colleagues and friends of Eduardo Puelles.

He also asked the Basque people to "show their rejection and repulsion, by peaceful means but with democratic firmness". He underlined that the "mission" of Puelles had been to "defend the rights and freedoms of the whole of our society."

The Basque Parliament, furthermore, unanimously approved a statement of condemnation for the killing for Eduardo Puelles. Members observed a minute''s silence in his honour.