Eustakio Mendizabal was tracked down by the police and shot in the head in Algorta, Bizkaia in April 1973. The ETA commando in Madrid named itself "Comando Txikia" in honour of the much-admired ETA martyr. Contrary to popular belief, an operation against Luis Carrero Blanco was already being planned when Mendizabal died, and "Comando Txikia" was not created specifically to avenge his death. Ultimately, the commando assassinated Luis Carrero Blanco in December 1973, after his nomination as President of Spain made the original kidnapping plan unfeasible.