Spanish police were not aware of any plan by Basque separatist group ETA and the FARC to attack Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ inauguration, as Colombia claims.
Spanish new source El Pais “Spanish anti-terrorist services were not aware of these plans of collaboration” between ETA and the FARC, and “according to various sources, they have officially requested more information from Colombian security forces on the matter.”
Colombian authorities on Thursday revealed details of the FARC’s alleged plans to attack the August 7 inauguration.
Caracol TV reported the FARC had received help from Basque separatist group ETA and had “the support of our neighboring countries, economic and arms support and the backing of politicians.”
Some 250 guerrillas were involved in the botched operation, the television network said.
The alleged plan consisted of firing five mortars at the Bogota‘s Plaza Bolivar, where the inauguration took place, at the presidential palace and three other locations in the political heart of the capital.
A similar attack took place during former President Alvaro Uribe’s inauguration in 2002, when FARC guerrillas launched hand-made explosives at the Casa de Nariño, killing nineteen and injuring 40 more.