SHOCKED neighbours of a “quiet” man alleged to be one of the world’s most
wanted terrorists told of their disbelief last night after he was arrested
in a police raid at his home.
Suspected ETA terror chief Benat Atorrasagasti Ordonez has been a fugitive for
11 years and while on the run was sentenced to five years behind bars for
transporting gunmen between France and Spain.
But the 36-year-old Basque separatist was snared by cops who raided his rented
flat in Leith, Edinburgh, on Friday night.
Bob Bulloch, 67, who lives above the apartment, said: “I heard all the
commotion and there were dozens of police everywhere, they took someone away
in a van. At first I thought there must have been a murder or it was drug
related because of the amount of police.
“I’m shocked it’s someone linked to terrorism. I’ve never seen the guy
before, they always had the curtains closed and kept a really low profile.
“The family were so private, it did make you wonder. I was certainly
suspicious of them.”
Ordonez — who is expected to appear in court today — is believed to have been
living under a fake name with his partner and two children while working as
a van driver in Livingston. Alarmingly, it’s thought he was lying low in
Scotland as a sleeper while waiting for orders from the feared terror
group’s high command, who announced a ceasefire last year.
Jane Fletcher, 23, who lives two doors away from the fugitive’s property,
said: “I’m in total shock, I can’t believe it.
“I’ve seen the guy a few times stood outside the house smoking and I’ve seen
him walking in the street with a woman and two small children as well.
“They had the curtains closed most of the time and seemed to keep themselves
to themselves.
“I’ve never seen him hanging around in any of the local bars or with friends.
It all seems quite obvious now that he was lying low.
“You do expect serious crimes in big cities, but finding out that an alleged
terrorist who has been on the run for ten years is living on your doorstep
is very scary. I don’t know how much of a threat he posed, but I’m just glad
that they got him.” The front of the tenement flat — where the family are
believed to have been living for around six months — was secured with metal
panels yesterday.
Ordonez, of San Sebastian, in the Basque region of Spain, is due to appear in
court in Edinburgh today and will most likely be extradited for trial in
Europe.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police yesterday confirmed the arrest.
He said: “A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Edinburgh on two European
warrants in connection with historical crimes committed in Spain and France.
“The man was arrested in the Leith area of the capital on Friday evening. We
can confirm that no armed officers were involved and at no time was any
member of the public at risk.
“The man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday under the terms of
the Extradition Act.”
Scottish-sun@the-sun.co.uk