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February 11, 2000: Firebombing of car dealership in Spain

On February 11, 2000 four hooded men from the Basque terrorist organisation ETA firebombed a Citroen dealership in northern Spain.

AMOREBIETA, SPAIN – If a bomb goes off in a forest and no one hears it does it count?

Terrorism is a funny thing sometimes. No, not ‘funny’ as in ‘ha-ha’: I would never trivialise those who believe in death and destruction for some version of an ideological, political or religious ’cause’. Far too many innocent people have died at the hands – or entire bodies in the case of suicide bombers – to make light of this.

But at times when you look at a particular act of terrorism you immediately scratch your head and say “Huh?” In other words, the act itself does not seem to achieve anything really. Aside from scaring the bejeezus out of those who may witness the event.

Not known for his stand-up comic routine methinks (Photo: thierry ehrmann on flickr, CC BY 2.0)

Take this one for example.

On this day in 2000

Four hooded men from ETA, the Basque terrorist organisation (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna), firebombed a Citroen dealership in Amorebieta, a town in northern Spain best (?) known for its second division football (i.e. soccer over here in Canada) team. No one was hurt in the blast.

I can remember when I was a bit of an ETA fan myself.

Christopher Hitchens

Why bomb a Citroen dealership? Did ETA get a bad oil change there? Could someone not afford the latest model? Or was it retribution for French cooperation with Spanish authorities in identifying and capturing these terrorists, some of whom lived in southern France? Who knows? Funny thing that.

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By Phil Gurski

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. Phil is a 32-year veteran of CSE and CSIS and the author of six books on terrorism.

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