Spanish authorities believe the suspected leader of the armed Basque group ETA arrested in France this weekend was likely planning a kidnapping in Spain.

Interior Minister Alfredo Pezez Rubalcaba says police found handcuffs among the material seized during the arrests of the three ETA suspects in the village of Cahan, France.

Rubalcaba told Cadena SER radio Monday, "Handcuffs are not the type of material ETA commandoes normally have".

He said the find Sunday confirmed police suspicions in recent months that ETA "still have the idea of carrying out a kidnapping in their heads".

Rubalcaba believes two of the suspects were having a final meeting with alleged ETA chief Ibon Gogeascoechea before entering Spain on an operation.