SPAIN/ETA: SECURITY FORCES FIND LARGE EXPLOSIVES

UNCLAS MADRID 001244 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV SP SUBJECT: SPAIN/ETA: SECURITY FORCES FIND LARGE EXPLOSIVES CACHE ¶1. (U) On June 21 Spanish media outlets reported that 130 kilos of explosives (reportedly enough to make eight bombs) were found in Huelva, Spain, two kilometers from the Portuguese border, in an abandoned Ford Focus allegedly belonging to the Basque terrorist group ETA. The vehicle contained detonators, timers, and one remote control. Daily ABC reported that Spanish security forces may have foiled a delivery to an ETA command cell that would be based in the popular Portuguese tourist destination of Algarve, and would support a chain of summer attacks against tourist interests in Andalucia. ¶2. (U) National Police and the Civil Guard have been on high alert since ETA's June 6 rupture of its "permanent" cease-fire. They have further reinforced security in the likelihood that ETA has set up other commands for attacks throughout Spain. ¶3. (U) Daily El Pais reported that President Zapatero congratulated Spanish security forces for their work and a CiU (the leading Catalan regional party) spokesperson said that all Spanish political parties will stand by the Spanish government in their efforts against ETA. AGUIRRE