# ETA cessation of armed activity and legacy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eta-cessation-of-armed-activity-and-legacy
> Updated: 2026-10-20T04:47:09.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 2.

The terrorist organization ETA announced the definitive cessation of its armed activity on October 20, 2011, ending over five decades of violence in Spain and the Basque Country. This transition, influenced by global political shifts and social mobilization, eventually led to the group’s formal dissolution in 2018 and a period of political normalization.

Fifteen years after the cessation, the legacy of the conflict remains a subject of ideological debate. While the end of violence transformed daily life, legal and social challenges persist. The Spanish Supreme Court has recently ordered the reopening of investigations into historical attacks, and victims' associations continue to seek judicial resolution for hundreds of unsolved murders.

On the 15th anniversary of the cessation, the Basque Government and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) issued calls for continued peace and democratic coexistence. The Basque Government urged those who have not acknowledged the ‘senselessness of violence’ to join the path of reconciliation with ‘courage, sincerity, and determination.’ Spokesperson María Ubarretxena emphasized that reconciliation requires an honest recognition of the damage caused to victims of murder, kidnapping, and coercion.

Security concerns resurfaced following the arrest of a 34-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman in Irún, Basque Country. The Spanish National Court ordered their provisional imprisonment after they were intercepted in Eskoriatza on September 26. Linked to the radical group Jardun, the detainees were found with encrypted devices, plans for former ETA weapon caches known as ‘zulos,’ and lists of Civil Guard members. Authorities also identified an Irish national reportedly linked to the IRA. While EH Bildu leader Arnaldo Otegi stated that a return to armed violence is not a possibility, leaders from the PNV and PP expressed deep concern regarding the seized intelligence.

## Claims

- The Basque Government marked the 15th anniversary of the end of ETA's armed activity. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The National Court ordered provisional prison for two detainees in Irún. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The suspects are linked to the radical group Jardun. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The arrest occurred following a police control in Eskoriatza on September 26. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The detainees are a 34-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Police seized plans for former ETA weapon caches and lists of Civil Guard members. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Arnaldo Otegi stated that a return to armed violence is not a possibility. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A third individual, an Irish citizen, was identified during the investigation. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-20: Spain: Two arrested for alleged terrorism on ETA's 15th anniversary

Two people have been placed in provisional prison in Spain for alleged terrorism links after police seized ETA-related documents, weapon cache plans, and police lists during a September checkpoint.

21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eta-the-end-of-armed-activity-and-its-impact-on-spain

### 2026-10-17: Basque Country marks 15 years since ETA ceased armed activity

Fifteen years after ETA announced the end of its armed activity, the Basque Country reflects on its transition to peace amid ongoing legal battles over unsolved murders and historical memory.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/basque-country-marks-15-years-since-eta-cessation

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Cite as: ETA cessation of armed activity and legacy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eta-cessation-of-armed-activity-and-legacy