Spanish authorities say a major disaster has been averted following the discovery of a massive cache of explosives belonging to ETA in Portugal.

At least 1,500 kilos of bomb making material was found at this house in Obidos, a popular tourist destination, after a stolen car was chased from a traffic control point.

It is believed to be the biggest seizure of its kind in almost 10 years.

Police also found several detonators and other equipment ready to be used.

The find appears to confirm what Spanish authorities have long been saying: that ETA is using sites in Portgual to prepare attacks in Spain.

Spain’s Interior Minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, delivered a warning to the militant Basque separatist group: “They can hide in France, Portugal, but they are always going to be found by the police, either by the French, or the Portugese, or the Spanish … they will be caught time and again until this (terrorism) will be over.”

Last year more than 30 alleged members of the militant Basque terror group were arrested in France, with police discovering 14 stockpiles of weapons, explosives and false identity papers.