Basque Police will restrict the use of rubber balls from January 2013

Basque Government's Interior minister Rodolfo Ares announced on Thursday that the Basque Police force Ertzaintza will restrict the use of rubber balls from January 2013.

Standard members of the Basque Police force will stop using such balls whereas special members such as the special forces or the reinforcement brigades will be allowed to use them in "special circumstances".

Speaking in the Basque parliament, Rodolfo Ares and the Ertzaintza director José Antonio Varela reported on the death of Iñigo Cabacas, a 28-year-old supporter of Athletic Club Bilbao who was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by riot police after Athletic Club Bilbao's Thursday's Europa League against Schalke 04. He died at Bilbao's Basurto hospital after having been in a coma for three days.

As well as announcing the restriction of use of the rubber balls, Ares also announced other measures such as the revision of the police procedures and the opening of an investigation in the conduct of policemen involved in the death of Iñigo Cabacas.

Ertzaintza director José Antonio Varelan assured the rubber ball that caused the death of Iñigo was shot from "more than 22 meters away" and not at close range.

However, Varela's statement contradicts the autopsy report, that revealed that the injuries received by Iñigo Cabacas were compatible with rubber balls fired at close range from anti-riot guns, used by members of the Ertzaintza, the Basque police force.