Costa Blanca

Former commander of ETA, has denied any involvement in the 1995 attack on airport

Iratxe Sorzabal, a former ETA leader, has denied her involvement in the attacks and has claimed that her confession to that attack and 21 others, which were recorded in a ‘kantada’ (a handwritten note sent by ETA members to the gang’s leadership after their arrest), was obtained under torture. She is currently facing six years in prison.

This is the statement she made in response to her attorney during the trial at the National Court, which is currently preparing for sentencing. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is requesting a six-year penitentiary sentence for her.

Sorzabal, who wept as she recalled her second arrest in 2001 and her time in police detention, insisted that she began collaborating with ETA in 1996. However, she denied that she was a member of any commando group, as her responsibilities with the group included securing the border with France.

During her interrogation, the former ETA member disclosed that the Civil Guard subjected her to a variety of forms of torture after her arrest. She discussed electrodes that caused burns on her back, bags being placed in her mouth, and blows. This experience compelled her to disclose the information she was compelled to admit as her own in the “kantada” and during her incommunicado detention at police stations.

“I signed because I had not slept for two days,” he stated. He also took 28 photographs and offered to claim the attack on Carrero Blanco as his own, which elicited amusement from the officers.

The prosecutor in the case, Carlos García Berro, maintained his request for Sorzabal’s sentence following his statement. He explained that in this case, there are only two essential pieces of evidence: the statement made by the ETA member herself and her ‘kantada’. He acknowledged the latter as valid, suggesting that the defence cannot assert that this handwritten note should be acknowledged in certain trials but not in others: “It is Schrödinger’s ‘kantada’.”

He emphasised that the document should be analysed independently of the police statement and the circumstances of the arrest in this regard. He described this type of note as genuine and spontaneous, as it was a “compulsory accountability by ETA.” Consequently, he disassociated this note from the police statement.

He also emphasised specific details about her, including the fact that she was recruited by her companion, Iñaki Tellechea, who was also a member of the gang, to join ETA in 1994.

Nevertheless, Sorzabal’s defence, which initiated its report by advocating for a complete acquittal, underscored that this is a case in which the detainee was subjected to torture, that a handwritten note containing an account of her statements at the police station is included as evidence, and that if this rant is attributed to Sorzabal, it cannot be used to secure her conviction due to the violation of her constitutional rights.

Consequently, he expressed his scepticism that Sorzabal would have composed that note if she had not been tortured and suggested that it is challenging to legalise evidence of this nature when the detainee’s fundamental rights have been violated. He added a final issue after elucidating the procedural loopholes that complicate the validity of the evidence: if it were a confession, it would also be invalid because it was made without the presence of a counsel and without the knowledge of her rights.

“The nullity of the evidence is the only viable alternative.” He also stated that they are attempting to convict using null evidence and a handwritten note that has been inadequately translated and misinterpreted.

Sorzabal is accused of placing an incendiary device at the Altet Airport in Elche (Alicante) on July 29th, 1995, according to the Public Prosecutor’s indictment. At 12:45 p.m. on that day, a cleaning lady was “emptying the trash can located in the tunnel connecting the parking lot with the passenger arrivals area” when she “observed a bag containing a package containing cables and a battery.”

“After being notified, the State Security Forces and Corps proceeded to cordon off the area, and the Tedax deactivated the device, which turned out to be composed of a digital clock, a 9-volt battery, 500 grammes of the explosive substance Ameritol, an electric detonator, and some cables,” according to the prosecutor’s office information.

The information provided indicates that “no personal or property damage occurred, even though the explosive device was placed with the aim of causing maximum damage to people and public and private property.”

This marks the second occasion in which Sorzabal has been dragged before the court this year. The former ETA leader was tried for an October 1995 attack at the Irún border crossing (Guipúzcoa) that damaged the Spanish customs office at the end of last February. She is currently facing a 12-year prison sentence for this offence.

Sorzabal, who is currently awaiting her sentencing, denied “everything” during her statement as the accused. The statement also examined the accused’s “kantada,” which includes assaults that, at the time of their recording, had no clear perpetrator, such as the two aforementioned.

The manuscript that the former gang leader recounted “is everything” she “was made to memorise, with every detail” at the police station maintained.

The significance of this “kantada” is that it references attacks that have not been prosecuted or ascribed, such as the one that occurred against a Mapfre branch in 1993. This is precisely the reason why the tribunal did not concentrate on the Irún attack, but rather on the validation or dismantling of the document’s content.

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Costa Blanca

Texas, Guitarricadelafuente, Travis, Jethro Tull and Kool & the Gang to play Alicante

Alma Occident’s spirit keeps expanding, and after taking over Barcelona and Madrid, the boutique event moves forward and lands in Alicante, “a city with a lot of soul,” according to a statement from the organisation. “With its sea, its light, its Mediterranean character, and its energy, Alicante becomes the perfect setting for a unique musical experience, where music comes alive in a curated environment that invites you to enjoy every moment,” they stated.

Alma Occident has made a name for itself in the music industry by assembling well-known national and international performers in a well planned arrangement. Alicante is joining this journey this summer with a show that is sure to enthral viewers right away. The festival has announced its first five confirmed artists, Texas, Travis, Kool & The Gang, Guitarricadelafuente, and Jethro Tull, in honour of this new location.

According to the event’s organisers, these five names “represent the diversity and artistic quality that characterise the festival,” combining “international legends and essential talents on the current scene.” In the upcoming weeks, the identities of the additional artists that will participate in this inaugural Alma Occident Alicante edition will also be made public.

The first confirmed name for the concert series is Texas. The iconic Scots will perform their renowned and adored live concert at Alma Occident Alicante on July 14th, following their highly acclaimed and sold-out UK arena tour. The band, led by Sharleen Spiteri, will perform songs spanning the past 50 years, including the worldwide hit “I Don’t Want A Lover” and more current singles like “Mr. Haze” and “Keep on Talking.”

On July 19th, Álvaro Lafuente, better known by his stage name Guitarricadelafuente, will be in Alicante to premiere previously unheard songs from his new album along with some of the biggest successes that have made him one of the most promising musicians of our day. He will return to the stage in 2025. The tour, which has been thoughtfully planned to establish a tight and direct relationship with its audience, will feature exclusive performances at specific locations. This time, Guitarricadelafuente concentrates on exclusive performances, providing a unique experience that emphasises the significance of this new phase of his career.

The renowned Jethro Tull will perform in Alicante on Sunday, July 20th, showcasing their distinctive progressive rock and folk sound. The British band, lead by Ian Anderson, has over fifty years of experience and guarantees a memorable night with their signature tunes and distinctive sound mix.

Travis, the celebrated Scottish band that has had a significant impact on indie music in recent decades, will take the stage a few days later on Wednesday, July 23rd. With songs like “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?” and “Sing,” Travis will enthral the Alicante audience with their mesmerising melodies and poignant lyrics.

One of the most important bands in funk and soul, Kool & The Gang, will take the stage on August 6. Kool & The Gang will captivate the audience with their infectious enthusiasm and have them dancing to the beat of timeless songs like “Celebration” and “Get Down On It” because to their identifiable energy and generous portion of danceable rhythms.

These will not be the only performances at Alma Occident, which further demonstrates the festival’s dedication to delivering its distinctive offering to towns with character, history, and a particular bond with live music by coming to Alicante. “A festival that is much more than a lineup of artists: it’s an experience where the audience is the true protagonist, in an environment designed to make every night an unforgettable memory,” they say. “Alma Occident is still beating hard. Additionally, it will now do so in Alicante,” the statement says.

For more information see https://almafestival.info/alicante/

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Costa Blanca

A two car collision in Almoradí left three hurt

At 2:10 p.m. on Thursday 27th March, three men, ages 36, 54, and 67, were hurt in a collision involving two vehicles on the AP7 close to Almoradí.

A SAMU unit and two Basic Life Support units have been sent to the location.

The 67-year-old and 35-year-old males, who each had many injuries and bruises, were taken to the Vega Baja Hospital in Orihuela, while the 54-year-old man, who had multiple injuries, was sent to the General Hospital of Elche.

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Costa Blanca

Elche is completing the new pavilion in the vicinity of L’Aljub

The new sports pavilion in the L’Aljub neighbourhood is now being built by the municipality of Elche. Along with Francisco Soler, the Deputy Mayor, José Antonio Román, the councillor for sports; and municipal experts, Elche Mayor Pablo Ruz visited the construction site of the new inclusive sports pavilion in the L’Aljub neighbourhood yesterday, Thursday 27th March.

Ruz stated that the project will be finished over the summer, in July or August, assuming all goes as planned, and that it represents an investment of €12.6 million. “Work on this area, which will be able to accommodate important athletic events, training sessions, and cultural gatherings, is moving along nicely. The mayor underlined that the area’s architectural significance required this kind of infrastructure.

“Delays in the works during previous legislative periods have led to the loss of the subsidy for this project, which has now been financed with municipal funds,” the governing team said of the project, which was first included in the Edusi European Funds.

The pavilion can accommodate 3,000 people and has a built-up area of more than 6,600 square meters. There will be 1,500 permanent seats in total, with the remaining seats being moveable and detachable. In addition to a centre court for all sports, the sports complex will feature a service ring with locker rooms, a gym, and weight rooms that are open to everyone.

“We are in the process of putting out to tender the draughting of the reorganisation and traffic access project for this entire area, which is essential for regulating vehicle flow,” Pablo Ruz said in reference to parking and access. Additionally, he suggested making a portion of the municipal parking lot of the L’Aljub Shopping Centre accessible to patrons of this pavilion.