Costa Blanca

Woman tells ETA trail “I removed the box and saw the bomb”

Former ETA leader Iratxe Sorzabal is scheduled to be tried at the National Court yesterday, Monday March 17th, at the National Court, two decades after the attempted explosion at Alicante-Elche airport. He is expected to be sentenced to six years in prison.

A cleaner uncovered the explosive device in a bin situated in the tunnel that connects the car park to the passenger arrivals area on July 29th, 1995. It was defused by bomb disposal experts (Tedax) without inflicting any damage. As per the prosecution’s report, the device was composed of “a digital clock, a 9-volt battery, 500 grammes of Ameritol explosive substance, an electric detonator, and some wires.”

Upon uncovering the box in which the explosive was enclosed, the woman who discovered it immediately recognised its nature. “I was required to mop the area surrounding a substantial bin.” The receptacle I had emptied was present when I returned, as I had left my trolley adjacent to it. She testified during the hearing, “I lifted a heavy bag, opened a box within, and discovered that it was filled with a very hard substance, including wires and a clock.”

According to the former airport employee, she was “calm in a significant way.” “In order to prevent any potential alarms, I concealed the item and promptly fled to notify the terminal staff and the authorities in the vicinity.” She explained, “I went upstairs to ensure that the area was cordoned off and that people were kept away, because I realised what it was.”

Sorzabal has appeared in court for the second time this year. The former ETA commander was charged with an attack that occurred at the Irún border crossing in Guipúzcoa in October 1995, resulting in damage to the Spanish customs office. The trial was conducted in late February. The prosecution is requesting a 12-year penitentiary sentence for that incident.

During her testimony as a defendant, Sorzabal denied “everything” while still anticipating the verdict. The ‘kantada’, a report that an ETA member submitted to the group’s leadership upon detention, was the subject of much attention. This report provided a detailed account of attacks that had not yet been identified, including the two incidents that were previously mentioned.

The former ETA commander asserted that the manuscript contained “everything” she had been “compelled to memorise, with all the details,” while in police custody.

In Monday’s session, the Civil Guard officer who analysed the ‘kantada’ testified again, stating that it contained “far more details and data about each of the actions she participated in, whether it be placing explosive devices or performing other tasks in terrorist actions,” as in the first trial.

An additional witness, who was also an officer, reported that the accused admitted to placing the device in a plastic bag on the Civil Guard premises. “According to the bombing report and the explosives technical report, that was precisely the container of the device—a black plastic rubbish bag,” said the investigator.

The trial will recommence today, when it will be prepared for sentencing. Sorzabal, who has requested to testify after all evidence has been presented, will be heard by the court.

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Costa Blanca

With the most insane course of the year, Survivor Race: The Extreme Test arrives in Alicante

The Survivor Race obstacle course is made for people of all skill levels, from novices to those who take their training seriously. The obstacle course, which drew over 4,000 people to Alicante in 2024, is making a comeback to the city with the goal of changing your mindset and way of life.

In Survivor Race, participants can choose from three different distances and compete either individually or in a group.

Distances and categories

There will be two categories available on the first day:

HUMAN 6K: 20 difficulties over six km
HERO 10K: ten kilometres with twenty-five challenges

The following choices are available on the second day:

HUMAN 6K: 20 difficulties over six km
XPLORER 3K: a three-kilometer course with fifteen obstacles that is perfect for novices

Either you or a group of ten or more people can take part. The latter option offers a 10% registration discount to each participant.

Regardless of whether you decide to join a group or not, each registration is completed separately. Everyone just needs to sign up for the same distance and departure time in order to travel together.

Why take part?

The race organisers say that “Survivor means waking up in the morning and feeling capable of overcoming all the obstacles we encounter every day, whether alone, as a couple, with friends, or family.” Therefore, this event provides a way for personal growth and friendship in addition to being an enriching experience.

Where and when?

Prepare for the most amazing obstacle course of the year on Saturday and Sunday April 12th and 13th, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary with an event that guarantees excitement, difficulty, and a tonne of fun. The event’s website is currently accepting registrations for the event, which will be held on Avenida Jaime I in Alicante.

Formal training sessions

To assist you be as ready as you can and get to know the attendees, the event organisers provide official pre-race training. On the Survivor Race website (see below), you can register for Survivor Workout.

Survivor Race Volunteering

Volunteers are welcome to join up to assist with race organisation. In addition to a pack of t-shirts, caps, and backpacks, you will also get free registration to take part in a Survivor Race, as well as food, beverages, and snacks.

Although you can select your role on the registration form, your responsibilities will include setup and breakdown, participant assistance, and organisation.

For more information see the website here https://survivor-race.com/workout/

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Costa Blanca

Alleged murderer of his stepdaughter tells her mother: “Go up to the house, the girl is sleeping”

Jesús JG, also known as Suso, is suspected of killing Nadia, his ex-partner’s adopted 5-year-old daughter, in a Murcia home. He also called his ex-girlfriend and his own mother.

It was the mother of the suspect who found the dead body. Later, she said that her son had contacted her while she was out at a pub with two friends, asking her to come over to the apartment since the girl was “sleeping” and he needed to go so she wouldn’t be left alone. When his mum got home after listening to her son, she discovered the girl in the bedroom “foaming at the mouth,” albeit still alive. Then she dialled 911.

When paramedics arrived on the scene in a 061 ambulance, they made numerous unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate the girl. The young girl passed away in one of the house’s bedrooms. Her remains were left there until shortly after 9:30 p.m., at which point permission was granted to take them out and deliver them to the Murcia Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Suso posted pictures of himself putting the girl on his shoulders while they play or eat together on social media, giving the impression that they are father and daughter. Hours after the crime, the person was taken into custody in Torrevieja.

Drug-related issues

Police were also informed by the suspect’s mother that her son had struggled with drug addiction for many years.

Along with a dozen close friends, Suso’s ex-partner Ramona participated in the minute of silence outside Murcia City Hall in remembrance of Nadia, whom she had reared and had custody of. Isabel, Ramona’s cousin and the biological mother of tiny Nadia, was also outside the hall’s doors.

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Costa Blanca

16 arrested in Spain for paying for access to a website that featured child pornography

16 people have been arrested by Spain’s National Police for using cryptocurrency to buy access to a child pornography website on the dark web.

38 nations have participated in this global investigation, which is being directed by Germany and coordinated by Europol. As a result, 1,393 people have been identified, and 79 people have been arrested. Some of the individuals who were arrested also mistreated children. According to a statement from the National Police, the investigation is still ongoing.

Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Jaen, Las Palmas, La Rioja, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Orense, Seville, Tarragona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valencia, and Zaragoza are among the Spanish cities where arrests have been made.

By hiding users’ identities and functioning as a social network, the dark web—particularly the platform under investigation within the TOR network—made it possible to buy and share illegal content.

With 91,000 videos and almost two million members, it was expanding at a rate of three videos every hour. While full films had to be paid for with cryptocurrency, initial access was free. Additionally, there were rewards for rating already-existing content or creating original stuff.

Despite the anonymity of cryptocurrency, German authorities were able to identify the buyers by cracking into the server and tracking down the payments. One person in Spain uploaded a video, and 17 others had bought content.

The National Police claim that people who purchase the content have a higher level of criminal dedication and sophisticated search techniques for illicit materials.

One of those detained in Spain was a student of computer technology who served as a distributor and had access to other platforms of a similar nature.

A detained individual in Alicante was also discovered to be a drug trafficker in possession of 700 ecstasy pills and €42,000 in cash. Several people who were arrested in Barcelona and Madrid had evidence of payment and child pornography. A suspect in Malaga confessed to the crime. A dentist in Murcia used a USB flash drive to save files.

Devices holding illegal material and proof of purchase were discovered in Almería, Orense, Seville, Tarragona, Tenerife, and Zaragoza, leading to additional arrests. One suspect had left Valencia for Paris. Another suspect in Jaén was looked into but not taken into custody. 39 minors were granted protection, and almost 3,000 electronic devices were seized globally.

Europol’s largest anti-child sexual exploitation operation was called Operation Stream. Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States were among the thirty-eight participating nations. One of the world’s biggest networks for disseminating paedophile content was severely damaged by this operation.