Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, considered one of the most brutal terrorists with the underground Basque movement ETA, was realised from jail on Saturday, triggering a call for a series of protests throughout Spain, reported dpa.
A 52-year-old former policeman, de Juana had been sentenced to more than 3000 years in jail for 25 counts of murder. Owing to the Spanish legal system his sentence was considered served after only 18 years behind bars.
He was arrested in 1987 and sentenced in 1989 for his part in 11 terrorists attacks in which 25 people were killed. According to Spanish law, he could only serve a maximum of 30 years in prison.
De Juana never showed any remorse for this acts and in his jail cell welcomed later attacks by ETA.
In response to de Juana's release, the group the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT) announced a series of protests in several cities around the country.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, while stating he had "deep contempt" for de Juana, said the laws regarding his release had to be complied with.