The Minister of Interior, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, has said that the ETA group who had occupied a house in Obidos, Portugal, had 300 kilos of explosives prepared for an imminent attack.
The Minister believes that the 300 kilos of explosives were to be used for imminent attacks because once these explosives were mixed and prepared, they had to be used quickly otherwise they would deteriorate and lose their effectiveness.
Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba also made reference to the recent arrest of suspected ETA member Ibai Beobide Arza at a Guardia Civil checkpoint on the road between Asteasu and Villabona, saying that it has to be assumed that he was up to no good because no-one carries a gun on a sporting or pleasure cycle ride.
France, Spain and Portugal are maintaining a high state of alert against possible ETA attacks.