Isaias Carrasco

Isaias Carrasco was an activist local politician for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. He was shot and killed in front of his home, located in the Northern Basque region of Spain, on March 7, 2008. Officials have blamed the killing ETA, a militant Basque separatist group. Both Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy, the candidates in the upcoming 2008 Spain General Election have canceled the remainder of their campaign engagements, scheduled to end on March 8, 2008. The election will still be held on Sunday, March 9, 2008.

1. Shot and killed on March 7, 2008
2. Shot in front of his home in the Northern Basque region of Spain
3. Carrasco's wife and daughter were witnesses to the murder
4. Officials have blamed the ETA for the killing
5. The ETA, classified as a terrorist group in Spain, fight for an independent Basque state
6. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy have ended their campaigns early in response
7. A train bombing by Islamic Militants before the 2004 election was falsly blamed on the ETA by the then ruling PP, tipping favor towards Zapatero
8. Recently, some have blamed Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for an ETA resurgence

• Google News: Isaias Carrasco
• Los Angeles Times: Socialist Party Activist Assassinated in Spain (March 7, 2008)
• Bloomberg: Spain Halts Campaign After Murder of Local Politician (March 7, 2008)
• Times Online: ETA Blamed for Murder of Socialist Party Councillor Isaias Carrasco (March 7, 2008) WARNING: Pop-ups
  • "Authorities immediately blamed Eta, the violent Basque separatist group, for the killing of Isaias Carrasco, a 43-year-old former Socialist Party councilor from the Basque town of Mondragon. Mr Carrasco was shot three times in his back and neck outside his home and died in hospital shortly after."
• Telegraph: Isaias Carrasco Killing Unites Spain in Anger (March 7, 2008)
• The Guardian: Spain Campaigning Ends After Killing (March 7, 2008)
  • "The killing raised tensions two days before the general election, bringing an early end to rallies that were supposed to conclude at midnight. There would be no resumption of campaigning before the election, the ruling Socialist party said."
• Deutsche Welle: Spanish Politician Assassinated Ahead of Election (March 7, 2008)
• EuroNews: Spain's Zapatero Condemns ETA over Pre-poll Shooting (March 7, 2008)
• EuroNews: Spain's Opposition Leader Blames ETA for Basque Killing (March 7, 2008)
• eitb 24: Ibarretxe: 'ETA Has Definitely Lost Its Bearings' (March 7, 2008)