Autopsy reveals Iñigo Cabacas died of injuries received by rubber ball

An autopsy revealed on Tuesday that the injuries received by Iñigo Cabacas were compatible with rubber balls fired at close range from anti-riot guns, used by members of the Ertzaintza, the Basque police force.

Iñigo Cabacas, a 28-year-old supporter of Athletic Club Bilbao, was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by riot police after Athletic Club Bilbao's Thursday's Europa League against Schalke 04. He died at Bilbao's Basurto hospital after having been in a coma for three days.

The autopsy does not reveal the distance from which the rubber ball was shot but came to the conclusion that it was shot at "close range".

It was after doctors found that Cabacas was displaying no signs of brain activity that his family agreed to take him off life support.

According to the deceased's family and friends, Iñigo Cabacas Liceranzu was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by riot police who were trying to subdue fighting near the San Mames stadium. Friends of the deceased claimed that there were no violent clashes but only two people fighting.

Negligence

An enquiry has been launched into the incident and Basque Government's Interior councilor Rodolfo Ares will appear in parliament on Thursday to report on the death of the 28-year-old man.

Speaking for Radio Euskadi's Boulevard radio program, Rodolfo Ares recognized "there might have been some negligence" in the conduct of the Basque police that caused the death of Iñigo Cabacas.

He also insisted that "he will do his best" to make sure that the "enquiry states the liability of each party involved in the matter."