French police seized a major explosives cache today linked to the Basque separatist group ETA.
Police said they had discovered 600 kg (1,300 lb) of dynamite together with bombmaking equipment and false car number plates when they raided a house near Pau, on the edge of the Basque region that straddles the border with Spain.
They said they raided the rented property after the landlord tipped them off that he had not been paid for several months. There was no sign of the tenants. Documents linked to ETA were also found at the premises.
ETA has killed more than 800 people, mostly in Spain, since it started a violent campaign for Basque independence 30 years ago. The group was recently placed on a European list of terrorist groups.
The Spanish government welcomed the news of the latest French police haul.
This was probably one of the most important operations of recent years, Interior Minister Mr Mariano Rajoy told a congress of Spain's ruling Popular Party.