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| Europe |
| France rapped over ETA escape |
| 2002-12-23 |
| There has been widespread criticism in the Spanish media of the escape of a suspected senior member of the Basque separatist guerrilla group, ETA, from French custody. Ibon Fernandez Iradi, who was being held in the town of Bayonne in south-western France, was due to be transferred to Paris on Sunday when he climbed through a skylight in his cell and escaped over railings and a wall. Spanish media reports say Mr Iradi's absence was not detected for at least six hours. The French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, has suspended five policemen who were on duty when the escape took place, and an extensive manhunt is under way. Mr Iradi and a woman were picked up at a police check-point on Thursday, in what was seen as an important coup. Their detention led to the arrests of seven more people whom Spain says are ETA operatives living in France. Mr Iradi and the woman were placed in separate cells at a police station in Bayonne. But Mr Iradi, who is described by police as very tall and thin, was able to squeeze though the skylight, which had no bars. I'm envisioning a X-Files episode An investigation is under way to determine whether he may have been helped by policemen. Now there's a thought Mr Iradi is suspected of being a logistics chief, responsible for organising back-up for teams who carry out attacks across the border in Spain. He's a big cheese The escape comes four months after another suspected ETA detainee walked free from a prison in central Paris. His brother, who resembled him, succeeded in swapping positions during a family visit. Hope they at least kept the brother |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 The ETa has used France as a hideout for decades. Er, just like a number of other terrorist organizations. French prisons have skylights? Mon Dieu! |
| Posted by: Chuck 2002-12-23 12:44:16 |