EIGHT BILLION EUROS is what the terrorist group ETA has costed the Spanish economy over the last ten years:

Attacks by armed Basque separatists Eta have cost the Spanish economy almost 8bn euros (£5.6bn) over the last decade, a government report says.

The report was commissioned by senior anti-terror Judge Baltasar Garzon.

As well as the physical damage caused by Eta's violent campaign, the report includes costs generated by increased security and compensation payments.

It also includes pensions for bereaved families, bodyguard fees, and extra prison space for detained Eta members.

But's that the direct costs; there's more:

The report - published by the daily El Pais - says the real cost to Spain's economy is far greater than the published figures, because the country suffers from reduced levels of private investment as a result of the Eta threat.