[3] The attacks came a day after protests, organised by the main political parties in the Basque country, had seen 15,000 people turn out "against terrorism and for peace."
The rallies had been organised following an increase in political violence, particularly the killing of the university professor Juan de Dios Doval, a member of the local executive committee of the Union of the Democratic Centre (at that time the governing party of Spain.
Five off duty civil guards, belonging to the local traffic department, were drinking in the Aizea bar, along with at least 20 other people.
[6] On 17 March 1988, Juan María Tapia Irujo was sentenced to 66 years in prison for participation in the attack.
[8] Tapia's testimony resulted in José Javier Zabaleta Elosegi, alias “Baldo”, being sentenced to 200 years in prison for participation in and authorship of the attacks.