Miguel angel Blanco - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Miguel Angel Blanco was a Spanish politician who was kidnapped and murdered by the Basque separatist group ETA in 1997.
- 2. Blanco was a member of the conservative People's Party (PP) and served as a councilor in the town of Ermua in the Basque Country.
- 3. In July 1997, Blanco was kidnapped by ETA while he was on his way to a town council meeting. He was held captive for two days before being shot in the head by his captors.
- 4. Blanco's kidnapping and murder sparked widespread outrage and protests across Spain, with thousands of people taking to the streets to demand his release.
- 5. The Spanish government attempted to negotiate Blanco's release with ETA, but the talks ultimately failed and Blanco was killed.
- 6. Blanco's murder was a turning point in the fight against ETA, with many people who had previously been sympathetic to the group turning against them in the wake of his death.
- 7. Blanco's funeral was attended by thousands of people, including members of the Spanish royal family and government officials.
- 8. In the years following Blanco's murder, numerous tributes and memorials have been dedicated to him, including a statue in his hometown of Ermua.
- 9. Blanco's death is often seen as a symbol of the brutality of ETA and the impact of terrorism on Spanish society.
- 10. The legacy of Miguel Angel Blanco continues to be remembered, with his murder serving as a reminder of the need for peace and reconciliation in the Basque Country.