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Founding of the ETA
Inspired by Marxist-Leninist teaching, dissident student members of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), formally founded ETA, which stands for Euskadi ta Askatasuna, meaning Basque Fatherland and Liberty in the Basque language. Its founders focused on opposing Francisco Franco's suppression of the Basque language and culture. -
The ETA's First Attempt at Violence
The ETA’s committed their first (unsuccessful) perpetration of violence when they attempted to derail a train carrying supporters of dictator General Francisco Franco -
"The First Cut is the Deepest"
The ETA made it's first killing for government attention by shooting Civil Guard Juan Pardines Arcay at a checkpoint. -
The First High Profile Murder
The ETA assassinated Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco using a bomb in Madrid. This was considered to be the most substantial attack on the Francoist regime since the end of the Spanish Civil War, and it generated the most attention for the ETA at that time. -
First Major Attack
The ETA Committed its first major attack by killing 12 people at a cafe in Madrid using a bomb. -
A Bloody Year
Up to that point, 1980 was the ETA's most bloody year because that year they claimed 91 lives, about half of those belonged to civilians.
