PARIS - Police arrested 11 suspected Basque militants Wednesday in southwest France in two separate investigations, including the financing of terror attacks in France and Spain, officials said.

The 11 — all French nationals — were being held in police custody after being questioned Wednesday.

Seven were questioned in connection with explosions in 2006 that slightly damaged a hotel in the French Basque country owned by acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse, according to a judicial official in Paris. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and asked not to be identified by name.

The four other suspects were questioned as part of a preliminary investigation into an alleged illegal money transfer from the Basque Communist Party in Spain to people residing in southwest France and close to the Spanish Basque movement, the official said.

French police searched the French headquarters of the pro-independence Batasuna party, authorized in France but banned in Spain. Batasuna members were reportedly among those arrested.

The investigation into Communist Party funds allegedly transferred to France to finance attacks was opened based on information supplied by Spanish anti-terror judge Baltasar Garzon.

The arrests were made in sweeps along France's border with Spain. Officials had originally reported 17 arrests.

Militants want an independent Basque state in northern Spain and southwestern France. The armed organization ETA has killed more than 825 people since 1968 in its campaign for Basque independence.

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