Madrid - Spanish police have discovered an arms cache of the militant Basque separatist group ETA, police confirmed Thursday.

The cache, which was found near Ezcaray in the northern Rioja region following the dismantling of the most important ETA cell on Tuesday, contained an automatic rifle, tools for stealing cars and tranquillizers.

The discovery followed the arrests of nine suspects associated with ETAs so-called Vizcaya complex, including its leader Arkaitz Goikoetxea, on Tuesday.

The cell was planning a large-scale car bombing before the end of the month in the Basque locality of Getxo, where one of the detainees lived and where ETA has staged several attacks, press reports said.

It was also thought possible that the cell was planning attacks in tourists resorts during the holiday season. (dpa)