Britain has sent a military unit to Spain to gather intelligence on possible links between the IRA and the Basque separatist group ETA, the Daily Telegraphreports.
The task force includes serving and former members of 14 Intelligence Company, a unit closely linked to Britain's Special Air Service (SAS), the report said.
A military intelligence official told the paper that the use of this company was "highly unusual as intelligence work would normally be carried out by other branches".
The use of British soldiers in operations on the territory of a major European state is likely to have been agreed at the highest level and is "highly sensitive," the official said.
An intelligence expert, quoted by the paper, said the move came as a surprise because MI5 would normally be expected to cover operations connected to the IRA.
AFP