Josu Urrutikoetxea

José Antonio Urrutikoetxea Bengoetxea, also known as Josu Urrutikoetxea, Josu Urrutikoetxea Bengoetxea, and by the nickname Josu Ternera, is a former member of the Basque separatist organization ETA. In separate trials over a number of years, he was convicted for his involvement in the 1986 Plaza República Dominicana bombing and the 1987 Zaragoza barracks bombing, which together killed 23 people.

Early life and education

José Antonio Urrutikoetxea Bengoetxea was born 24 December 1950 in Ugao-Miraballes, Biscay, Basque Country.

Career

Urrutikoetxea joined the ETA in 1968, at the age of 18, and was in charge of operations in the Biscay region until fleeing to France in May 1971 Urrutikoetxea left ETA in 2006. In 2013, along with David Pla Marín and Iratxe Sorzabal, he met Spanish government representatives in Norway. In 2018 Urrutikoetxea was involved in the disarmament and dissolution of ETA. with the president of the 16th Anti-Terrorism Criminal Chamber of Paris stating "there is neither material evidence nor evidence of motive to prove the crime of participating in a criminal association with the intention of planning acts of terrorism." Its inclusion in the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival was subject to controversy.