Spain's Interior Ministry said yesterday it had raised its anti-terror alert level to 2 to reflect the risk of possible attacks ahead of Madrid taking over the European Union presidency on Jan. 1. The move comes a day after Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said armed Basque separatist group ETA could use Spain's six-month EU presidency to commit a violent attack or a high-profile kidnapping. "There exists a probable risk of an attack due to the special significance of the Christmas holiday period, Spain's upcoming EU presidency, and after an evaluation of the risks of a terrorist threat at home made by Spain's armed and security forces," the ministry said in a statement.

 

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