France/Terrorism: French police arrests suspected ETA member

Spanish public television reported that a suspected member of the Basque terrorist group ETAJosu Iraizoz Esparza was arrested by French police on Monday in Ahetze (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) after he stole a car. Two other suspected ETA terrorists managed to escape the arrest.

ETA has traditionally used France as a safe rear-base for attacks onSpain, but in recent years the two EU allies have strengthened cross-border police cooperation and cracked down on the group. The outfit frequently used stolen cars in their attacks, either as get-away vehicles or as car bombs.