He October 17, 1991 It is a date that, unfortunately, both Villa Irene like his mother, Maria Jesus Gonzálezthey will never be able to forget. 33 years ago, the terrorist group ETA attacked Madridplacing a bomb under the car in which the mother and daughter were traveling. Both managed to escape alive, but with consequences: Irene lost her legs and three fingers of one hand and her mother, a leg and an arm. However, that did not stop them from giving Spain one of the most iconic images of the decade, that of their reunion in the hospital.
This attack ended more than ten years ago without the culprits being identified. This year’s anniversary coincides with controversy over the law, which may represent a sentence reduction for around forty terrorists. Specifically, the ETA members who allegedly attacked them, Kantauri and Anboto, are in prison for other matters and They could be released from prison between 2025 and 2026.
Still, Irene Villa’s vision is that of a victim who focuses on the fact that ETA was defeated years ago: “No one served a sentence for ours, but our best sentence is the one there are no more victims of terrorism“. “We were very lucky to come out alive, which is why we must honor lifefor all those people who were not so lucky,” he added.
His figure is one of the most symbolic in the fight against terrorism and, despite his optimism, he expresses his solidarity with those who also suffered from the insanity of ETA: “When someone has to go to the cemetery to lay flowers because he killed a family Mr. Congressman, to be told that the person who caused this breakup is going to benefit… Well, man, I think the victims deserve a little more respect, dignity and affection“.
