The military ETA kidnaps the general engineer of the Lemoiz nuclear power plant, José María Ryan. They threatened to kill Ryan if the works of the nuclear power plant do not stop within a week. The Spanish Government stated that with blackmail they would not "get anything" and the harsh days shook Basque society. Among others, Ryan's wife and children appeared on TV robbing her husband and father's life. ETA was waging a strategic fight against Lemoiz and by the time the deadline was reached she was killed.

The action provoked the most massive demonstrations so far against ETA and caused great controversy within an ever stronger anti-nuclear movement.

Works were suspended in 1984.