Today, across the country of Spain, there was silence. Silence, in respect, and mourning for fallen leader Isaías Carrasco, who was shot five times in the back of the head outside his home in Mondragón-Arrasate on Friday. The killing is blamed on ETA terrorists.

While it is uncertain what exactly happened it is believed that after getting into his car on his way to work, Carrasco was shot from a distance of about half a meter. Wounded, Carassco managed to get out of his car, before collapsing in the street.

Questions today centered on why Carassco did not have police protection or some form of body guard. However, it is reported by unnamed authorities close to the investigation that Carassco had refused protection believing himself not to be in harm's way.

Police continuing the investigation into Carassco’s death are looking for a grey Seat, believed to have license plates from Bilbao. They anticipate the vehicle to possibly be a Córdoba model.


Today, in honor of the fallen Carrasco, a number of protests were held in Spain, one in Mondragón-Arrasate itself. Present there was the widow of Isaías Carrasco, Marián Romero, and his two daughters, Sandra and Ainara, among the thousands who walked in a silence through the streets. Some in the procession held up a banner with the words, ‘For freedom. No to ETA.’

El País.com reported politicians from all parties represented in the local Town Hall attended the march, with the exception of ANV, Acción Nacionalista Vasca, whose activities as a party were recently suspended by the National Court, along with PCTV, the Partido Comunista de las Tierras Vascas. Further reported by El Pais stated,


The Acting Deputy Prime Minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, was at the protest held outside central government offices in Valencia, and the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia, also observed a five minute silence in Barcelona at midday on Monday. Other protests took place in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and outside Congress, and at the doors of the regional parliament building in Navarra.


On Friday, following reports of the tragic news, what was to be the last official day of campaigning in the Spanish general election was suspended for fear of further terrorist actions upon local politicians.