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Tuesday 26 July 2011

Terrorist mastermind' accused of plot to kill King of Spain demands legal aid to fight extradition

terrorist mastermind' accused of plotting to kill the King of Spain and to blow up Madrid airport has applied for British legal aid to fight his extradition. 

Alleged explosives expert Eneko Gogeaskoetxea Arronategui is accused of planting bombs at a court house, a bull fighting ring and a town centre for terror group ETA between 1996 to 1998.

But because at the time of the offences the ETA was not classified as a terrorist organisation in the UK, the alleged terrorist can apply for legal aid.


Accused: Arronategui is suspected to trying to kill Spain's King Juan Carlos

Arronategui is believed to have fled Spain to come and live in the UK.

He lived under the alias 'Cyril Macq' and worked as a computer program designer after his alleged two-year reign of terror.

He was arrested in Cambridge this month on suspicion of being a part of a ETA cell that plotted to kill Spain's King Juan Carlos when he attended the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao on 18 October 1997. 

 

At Westminster Magistrates' Court the Spanish Authorities served six further warrants on 'Spain's most wanted terror suspect' all related to planting bombs in Spain. 

Arronategui was previously charged with the botched assassination on King Juan Carlos, being a member of the ETA, possession of ammunition, murdering a police officer and the theft of three vehicles. 

He is also wanted for the fraud of public documents, after allegedly transferring licence plates. 


Mr Arronategi is alleged to have been involved in a plot to bomb the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao in October 1997 as Juan Carlos opened it, before fleeing the country

Appearing for the Spanish Authorities Ben Watson listed a further six terrorism offences Gogeaskoetxea is accused of carrying out for the ETA terrorist arm Katu. 

From 1996 to 1998 - when he was 'forced to flee the country' - Arronategui is accused of planting bombs next to two civil guard barracks, a Madrid airport, a Basque Court House and a bullfighting ring. 

Arronategui is accused of planting a bomb in the centre of a Basque town and used a trip wire to set it off, but the lethal explosive was deactivated by police.

Two of the six bombs exploded causing extensive damage to the back of the court house and another exploded near a Spanish bullfighting ring causing one injury. 

He used grenades and anti-tank grenades as explosives for his bombs, the court heard. 

Appearing by video link from Belmarsh prison, where he is on remand, Arronategui spoke only to deny consent to extradition and ask the court for time to speak to his lawyers. 

Defence barrister Mark Sumers said at the time of the offences the ETA was not classified as a terrorist organisation and he was allowed to apply for legal aid. 

He said: 'There is a legal issue in that ETA was not classified as a terrorist organisation in this country when the offences were alleged to have taken place.'

In a previous hearing before Westminster Magistrates' Court acting on behalf of the Spanish Authorities, James Stansfeld said during the attempt, Gogeaskoetxea had been spotted in the museum gardens filling window boxes with ammunition and grenade launchers.

Mr Stansfeld said: 'The requested person was stopped while he was in the Guggenheim gardens filling garden window boxes with ammunition and grenade launchers.

'The police officer who stopped them was shot and killed.

'In order to effect his escape throughout the city he hijacked three cars to evade capture.'

He will next appear by video link on August 22 at Westminster Magistrate Court before a full review of all the extradition warrants on September 7.

 

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