The ETA

One of the world's most active and violent terrorist groups is also one of its least well-known. The ETA is committed to creating an ethnic Basque homeland independent of Spain. Once hailed as freedom fighters by many Spaniards for resisting the oppressive rule of the dictator Franco, in recent years the group has lost popularity as it has continued to launch its violent attacks against government figures and tourist destinations even after the arrival of democracy in Spain.