Spain’s Interior Minister Juan Antonio Alonso told a news conference Friday that two suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA detained in France had notes on Madrid 2012 Olympic sites that could be ETA’s potential targets.
He said among the documents seized from Peio Esquisabel Urtuzaga and Jose Manuel Ugartemendia Isasa, who were both detained in the southern city of Toulouse, police found information on four sports complexes in Madrid, at least one of which is under construction, and two desalination plants near the southern city of Almeria.
But Alonso said the information was imprecise and could have been downloaded from the Madrid 2012 official Web site.
Earlier his ministry said French police had seized “sketchy notes” on the sporting venues featured in Madrid’s bid from a backpack belonging to the two ETA suspects.
The two men were detained as they headed to a laundry to pick up a forgotten bag in which there was a gun with ETA’s snake and axe symbol, false identity papers, documents and some photos.
Meanwhile Madrid’s city council said it will keep the land designated for the Olympic Village, even if the city does not win the bid, reports Marca, calling the area superb and its proximity to the airport and the Olympic Stadium a plus should Madrid bid again.
