MADRID – Security forces were questioning whether ETA was behind the 11 March terrorist attacks within three hours of the bombings, sources close to the investigation claimed Friday.

Members of the security services contacted police in Catalonia in north-east Spain and the Basque Country to ask for details of Islamic terrorists in these regions.

In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser Friday, a source close to the investigation said they doubted the Basque terror group were the authors of the attack within hours.

The former conservative government repeatedly claimed ETA carried out the attack, causing a backlash in the general election on 14 March after many voters refused to believe they were being told the truth about the atrocity. 

The Socialists won a shock victory which was believed by many to have been the result of the government’s handling of the crisis.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news