Judge says ETA targeted America's Cup

Miguel de Garikoitz Aspiazu was charged with plotting an attack.

MADRID - A judge charged the suspected leader of the Basque separatist group ETA yesterday with plotting an attack on the America's Cup sailing race last year in Valencia, Spain.

Judge Baltasar Garzon said Mikel de Garikoitz Aspiazu sent another suspected ETA member to Valencia to gather information on the city's port, and on ceremonies to be held in connection with the race and delegations that were to attend.

Aspiazu, 35, was arrested last week in France and remains in custody there.

Garzon said in an indictment that the emissary, Iker Agirre, was arrested in January 2007 as he entered Spain from France en route to Valencia. The race was held in June and July.

The judge charged the two men with belonging to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit murder.

He charged five other suspected ETA members with terrorism for allegedly indoctrinating Agirre and training him to use explosives.

Aspiazu had also ordered Agirre to gather information for attacks last summer in Alicante, a coastal resort region just south of Valencia, the judge wrote.

The judge said investigators learned of the America's Cup attack planning through interrogation of Agirre and documents he was carrying upon his arrest, among other sources of information.

ASSOCIATED PRESS