Spanish police have arrested seven members of a group suspected of cutting train lines and throwing petrol bombs in support of the Basque separatist group Eta, the interior ministry said today.
The gang, arrested on August 24th in Navarre, northern Spain, is linked to youth groups banned for street violence in support of Eta's demand for an independent Basque homeland, the ministry said.
In recent months, gang members have thrown homemade explosives at policemen and public buildings, the ministry said.
"They have the same targets as the terrorist group Eta, from politicians to public buildings, as well as continuing to take action against the high speed train," the ministry said.
Eta (Euskadi ta Askatasuna, or Basque Homeland and Freedom) has said it considers the high-speed train line being built between Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria in the Basque region a target for its attacks.
Police have searched 15 premises in connection with the arrests and investigations are continuing, the ministry said.
Eta has killed more than 800 people in its campaign for an independent Basque homeland.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero held peace talks with the group after they announced a ceasefire but called them off in December 2006 when the group killed two Ecuadoreans in a bomb at Madrid airport.
Mr Zapatero has ruled out further peace talks with Eta and says the guerrillas' only option is a unilateral surrender.
Reuters