Madrid - The militant Basque separatist group ETA early Wednesday threatened to carry out attacks against entrepreneurs, technicians and others associated with the construction of a Basque high-speed rail network, and against national Spanish and local media.

In a communique published by the Basque newspaper Gara, ETA claimed responsibility for the killing of entrepreneur Ignacio Uria on December 3.

Uria's company participated in the construction of a high-speed rail network linking three Basque cities with each other, Madrid and France by 2013.

ETA said it had shot Uria dead because of his connections with the railway and for refusing to pay the group a "revolutionary tax."

ETA sees the rail project as representing the interests of the Basque region's governing Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which it regards as too moderate in promoting the Basque nationalist cause.

ETA also claimed responsibility for attacks against a Bilbao building housing several Basque and national media on December 31, and against a television booster station in November 2008. The bombs caused material damage, but no injuries.

ETA accused Spanish media of working for the Interior Ministry against the Basque independence movement.

On Friday, ETA made a failed attempt to kill police officers with a bomb booby trap. The group is held responsible for more than 800 deaths since 1968. Four of the victims, including Uria, were killed in 2008.

ETA is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. (dpa)