The Challenge (2020)

ETA was born during the Franco dictatorship as a Basque freedom struggle movement. However, with Franco dead and democracy established, ETA continued their campaign. We began in 1968 with their first murder, that of a civil guard who intercepted an ETA cell on their way to collect explosives. The campaign escalates, up to the assassination of the president of the Francoist government.

With the death of Franco, the prisons are opened to political prisoners. Many ETA members will emerge during this period. One of the bloodiest is Jesús María Zabarte, the Mondragón Butcher. The organisation continue their path, and starts an open war against the State, with the assassinations of businessmen, politicians and the military, and even bringing terror to the civilian population.

ETA's escalation reaches a new level: car bombs that kill dozens of people, especially civil guards. Its objective is to force the Government to recognize the independence of the Basque Country. In the name of this objectivet, ETA will eliminate whoever stands in the way, including its owndissident members. However, the State reacts with operations that put ETA on the ropes, one of them with the help of the CIA.

The State agrees to negotiate with ETA, although its leaders have no intention of compromising on their stated goal of an independent Basque state. In 1992, the great showcases of Spain are the Universal Exposition of Seville and the Olympic Games of Barcelona. At this critical moment, the Spanish government and the Civil Guard make progress on dismantling the ETA leadership.

The new leadership of ETA is even more bloodthirsty than the previous one. One of its main decisions is the assassination attempt on the right-wing candidate for the presidency of the Government. Kidnappings and murders of politicians, public figures and civil guards take place. During this period, a young Basque councilor is kidnapped. Though it is unknown at the time, this event will trigger the end of ETA.

The murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco rouses popular opinion against ETA. The State counter-attacks by outlawing its political arm and ensuring that court sentences are corroborated by the Strasbourg Human Rights Court. The driving force of the most recent ETA activities, Kantauri, is captured by the civil guard.

ETA is struggling in the face of government action, but has not abandoned its aims. However, an unreleated terrorist action has consequences for ETA, as the bloodiest attack in the history of Europe occurs on March 11, 2004. 193 people are killed in a series of jihadist actions that shook Madrid and shocked the world. .

ETA seems to be finished. Even so, it tries to resume its pressure on the State, which again negotiates with its representatives. The leader of the organisation, Txeroki, falls as the latest murders are committed in Spain and France. Finally, on September 5, 2010, ETA issues a statement on the BBC in which it announced the cessation of violence.