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Three members of Basque terrorist group ETA sentenced to almost 4,000 years in prison

However, under the Criminal Code adopted in 2003, the maximum term of imprisonment in Spain is 40 years

(L-R) Daniel Pastor Alonso, Beatriz Etxebarria and Inigo Zapirain Romano EPA/PACO CAMPOS

(L-R) Daniel Pastor Alonso, Beatriz Etxebarria and Inigo Zapirain Romano

© EPA/PACO CAMPOS

MADRID, December 12. /ITAR-TASS/. The Supreme Court of Spain has sentenced three members of the Basque terrorist organization ETA to a record-high prison terms in the last few years. Daniel Pastor Alonso, Inigo Zapirain Romano and Beatriz Etxebarria Caballero, according to the verdict, were sentenced to 3,860 years in prison each, the El Pais daily wrote on Thursday. However, under the Criminal Code adopted in 2003, the maximum term of imprisonment in Spain is 40 years.

The members of the separatist group were involved in staging terrorist attacks in July 2009 near the barracks of the Civil Guard (military police) in the northern city of Burgos. A car bomb packed with 700 kg of explosives was set off. There were no victims, however, 160 people, including 41 children, were slightly injured. The court sentenced on Wednesday evening the terrorists to 24 years in prison for each injured, and to 20 years for the material losses.

Basque terrorist organization ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna — “Basque Country and Freedom”) was founded in 1959. It stands for the independence of the region that comprises territories in northern Spain and southwestern France. For more than 50 years of the group’s existence, over 800 people were killed as a result of their attacks. October 20, 2011, ETA announced “final cessation of armed struggle”. Despite this, the police have continued to pursue its participants. At present, around 550 ETA members are in Spanish prisons, and about 200 are serving sentences in French prisons.

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