Sandra Carrasco read out a statement yesterday during a demonstration outside Mondragón Town Hall to condemn the murder of her father, former socialist councillor Isaias Carrasco, who was shot dead outside his home by a lone gunman thought to be on ETA's payroll last Friday lunchtime. What follows is a translation of the entire statement.

"First of all, I want to say a sincere thank you to the people of Arrasate for their support. All the private individuals who have approached me and my family to express their affection, warmth and support at this extremely difficult time. Thanks for being with my mother, my brother Adei and my sister Ainara."

"I also want to take advantage of these microphones and cameras to thank the socialists who have been by our side. They murdered my father for defending freedom, democracy and socialist ideas. He was always a brave man who stood up for himself. And those who killed him are cowards."

"But above all, I want to ask one thing. And that is that the death of my father should not be manipulated by anyone. We won't tolerate it. Me, my mother, we're all going to vote. And that is what I ask. And those who want to show solidarity with my father and our pain should turn out to vote in massive numbers on Sunday to tell the terrorists that we're not going to take even one step backwards."

Slain councillor was hit five times by single shooter
By: thinkSPAIN
Saturday, March 8, 2008

The events leading up to the death of former socialist councillor Isaias Carrasco Miguel yesterday lunchtime have been confirmed.

Mr Carrasco (43), who was married with three children, was shot five times at point-blank range shortly after 1.30pm by a single assassin who fled the scene immediately afterwards in a silver-coloured Seat Toledo saloon driven by an accomplice.

Mr Carrasco, who was on his way to work as a motorway toll collector, was hit after getting into his car which was parked outside his home on the calle Navas de Tolosa in Mondragón's San Andrés district.

The gunman positioned himself in front of his victim's car, firing through the windscreen and hitting Mr Carrasco in the head, neck, arm, and abdomen.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Mr Carrasco got out of the car and tried to make his way back home before collapsing in the street, where he was attended by his wife and 20 year old daughter. Already unconscious, he was rushed by ambulance to Mondragón Hospital where he died of a massive heart attack at 2.40pm.

Eye-witnesses have described the assassin as athletic, but not very tall. They say he had been loitering nervously outside Mr Carrasco's flat for some time before the attack. He was wearing a dark jacket and had a stubbly beard as though he had not shaved for several days.

Zapatero and Rajoy cancel election campaigns after ETA murder
By: thinkSPAIN
Friday, March 7, 2008

On the final day of campaigning ahead of next Sunday's general election, both Mariano Rajoy and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero have cancelled their electioneering programmes after the assassination - seemingly by ETA - of former socialist councillor Isaias Carrasco in Mondragón this lunchtime.

The two presidential candidates have already spoken on the phone and an emergency debate will be held in the House of Congress this afternoon.

Former socialist councillor shot dead outside home
By: thinkSPAIN
Friday, March 7, 2008

Isaias Carrasco Miguel was shot dead by a lone assassin in front of his wife and daughter in Mondragón at 1.30pm today.

The 43 year old former socialist councillor was hit three times as he and his family were leaving their home on the calle Navas de Tolosa.

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was told the news by Andalucía president Manuel Chaves at the end of a pre-election rally in Málaga and is now travelling back to Madrid to manage the situation from the Moncloa Palace.