Spanish Home Office believes ETA will seek attention

On Monday, Spain's Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, warned of the possibility that ETA may carry out a kidnapping within "sectors of significant social importance". Consequently, all security forces called a state of alert and received instructions on how to coordinate in order to prevent any such action by the armed group.

Rubalcaba and Basque Councilor for the Interior, Rodolfo Ares, were agreed in highlighting the current weaknesses and internal divisions within ETA though they both concurred that the organization felt the need to show it "still exists" and would do so via some dramatic acts.

Speaking after a meeting with the Basque Security Committee, also attended by Ares, the Minister that such an action by ETA would give them "the notoriety they currently lack".

"The abduction would have all the characteristics of a dramatic act, would receive continued media coverage, would give ETA the attention they currently lack, and would not be too disadvantageous to the sphere in which they move," Rubalcaba informed the media.

Rubalcaba also believes that ETA will use Spain's upcoming Presidency of Europe to also carry out something dramatic, and as such warned security forces not to "lower their guard" as often happens during long periods of inactivity by the armed Basque movement.