MADRID (Reuters) - Three suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA, accused of planting a car bomb at Madrid airport in 2006 that killed two Ecuadoreans, refused to address the court when their trial opened in Madrid Monday.
The bomb shattered peace talks aimed at ending four decades of violence by the group in support of its demand for an independent homeland in northern Spain and southwest France.
Igor Portu, Martin Sarasola and Mikel San Sebastian face jail sentences of up to 900 years each if found guilty on charges of two murders, 41 attempted murders and terrorist damage, though under Spanish law the maximum term is 40 years.
“I don’t recognize this fascist court and I am not going to take part in it,” Sarasola told the court in Basque.
Trials in Spain involving ETA supporters have taken months in the past, but state television channel La1 reported that this trial could end this week.
ETA claimed responsibility for the massive bomb which exploded in Terminal 4 at Madrid airport on New Year’s Eve in 2006, but said it had not wanted to kill anyone.
Warning calls were made before the bomb exploded and the airport buildings were evacuated, but Diego Armando Estacio and Carlos Alonso Palate died asleep in their car in the terminal’s carpark, which was reduced to rubble by the blast.
As a result of the bombing, the Spanish Socialist government called off the peace process that had started after ETA announced a “permanent ceasefire” in March 2006.
Many had hoped the talks would end ETA’s violent campaign in Spain. The group has carried out bombings, kidnappings and shootings for four decades to back its demand for an independent homeland.
Reporting by Raquel Castillo, writing by Sarah Morris, editing by Tim Pearce
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