Basque government congratulates police on arrests

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Police staged raids in Bilbao, Getxo and Elorrio in the Basque Country. Photo: EiTB

Basque government's Interior Department congratulated on Tuesday Spain's Police and Interior Ministry on the dismantling of ETA's "Bizkaia unit".

At least nine suspected members of the armed Basque group ETA were arrested overnight, including Arkaitz Goikoetxea, believed to be leader of the "Bizkaia unit".

The operation "is a terrible blow for the network of the terrorist group and avoids future attacks", the statement said.

The statement also underlined the importance of the collaboration between the Basque and Spanish police forces and said it "was a key tool to fight terrorism".