France launched a formal terrorist inquiry today into three suspected members of ETA after a shootout with police that stoked fears the Basque separatist group is becoming more active on French soil.
A judicial source said two men and one woman had been placed under official investigation after their arrest last week in the southwestern French town of Auch for driving through a police road block, triggering a car chase and gunfight.
All three are under investigation for alleged links with a terrorist organisation. One of them, suspected ETA commando Mr Inaki Lizundia Alvarez who was injured after he allegedly opened fire on police, is also being probed for attempted murder.
Under French law, a formal probe is one step short of charges. The inquiry also covers accusations the group possessed illegal arms and were in possession of a stolen vehicle.
The incident followed two similar shootouts in nearby Pau which left one policeman on life support.
ETA campaigns for independence for the ethnic Basques of northern Spain and southwest France, and has been linked to 800 deaths in Spain in the last 30 years.
While the incidents raised fears of ETA becoming more active on French soil, police sources said last week there was no concrete evidence the outlawed group planned attacks in France.