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A year since the incident that caused the death of Iñigo Cabacas

Iñigo Cabacas was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by riot police after an Europa League against Schalke 04. He died at Bilbao's Basurto hospital after having been in a coma for three days.

  • Place where Iñigo Cabacas was shot in the head by a rubber bullet. Photo: EFE

    Place where Iñigo Cabacas was shot in the head by a rubber bullet. Photo: EFE

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Today marks a year since Iñigo Cabacas, a 28-year-old supporter of Athletic Club Bilbao, was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by riot police after an Europa League game against Schalke 04. He died at Bilbao's Basurto hospital after having been in a coma for three days.

It was after doctors found that Cabacas was displaying no signs of brain activity that his family agreed to take him off life support.

The autopsy revealed on that the injuries received were compatible with rubber balls fired at close range from anti-riot guns, used by members of the Ertzaintza, the Basque police force. It did not reveal the distance from which the rubber ball was shot but came to the conclusion that it was shot at "close range".

According to the deceased's family and friends, Iñigo Cabacas Liceranzu was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by riot police who were trying to subdue fighting near the San Mames stadium. Friends of the deceased claimed that there were no violent clashes but only two people fighting.

An enquiry was launched into the incident and Basque Government's Interior councilor Rodolfo Ares appeared in parliament to report on the death of the 28-year-old man. Speaking for Radio Euskadi's Boulevard radio program, Rodolfo Ares recognized "there might have been some negligence" in the conduct of the Basque police that caused the death of Iñigo Cabacas.

District attorney of the Basque Country Juan Calparsoro said that the death of Iñigo Cabacas could be branded as negligent homicide, although the enquiry could also find out that the death was as a result of a 'unforeseen circumstances'.

A year after the incident that killed Cabacas, the enquiry is still open, there are many unanswered questions and no one has been held responsible.

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