At least 20 attacks using incendiary devices have targeted summer homes, building sites, and real estate agencies since the beginning of the year.

It is a mark that has the ring of a warning. The following phrase covers the targeted buildings, which most of the time end up with walls blown up, collapsed roofs, and devastated rooms: ''the Basque Country is not for sale.'' The French Basque region has been the target of a wave of attacks since the beginning of 2007: more than 20 already. And the phenomenon has further intensified this summer with six new attacks carried out in a period of one and a half months.
The latest aborted attack was the discovery on Wednesday of three gas bottles near the Chiberta Hotel, located on the Anglet Golf Course (Pyrenees-Atlantiques), which now has more than 200 summer guests. No claim of responsibility was found at the site but the police had received an anonymous telephone call early in the week announcing this act.
The past few weeks have been marked by repeated attacks on summer homes, buildings under construction, and real estate agencies from Biarritz to Bayonne as well as in Ciboure, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hasparren, Guetary, Larrau, Licq-Atherey and Tardets-Sorholu....

''From Nationalist Movements''
But who is hiding behind these bombers and arsonists? A mysterious group called Irrintzi drew attention to itself after an explosion took place in Ciboure in April. However, investigators were unsuccessful in unmasking it.
''It is very difficult to establish an exact profile of the people perpetrating these acts but some evidence leads us to think that they come from nationalist movements such as Segi [unidentified youth group]. There could be two active groups at the very least. They are presumably young, between 20 and 30 years of age, and resent being invaded by tourists,'' indicates a source close to the investigation.
One thing is certain: it is that the perpetrators live locally. ''There is a 99 per cent probability that they are local people. It remains to be determined if they act in groups or if they strike in an isolated manner,'' underscores a police source.
On 11 August, 300 Basque elected officials gathered in Tardets. They were sharply criticized on ''attitudes'' that did not resolve the housing crisis problems in the least. Their appeal for calm did not sooth things.