The terrorist attack in Barcelona, and the incident in Cambrils could have an impact on the future of Catalonia. The independence efforts could suffer a major setback. Madrid, Stefanie Müller.
Grieving on the Las Ramblas Boulevard in Barcelona
As of Thursday afternoon, a small truck drives on to the pedestrian walkway, the busiest shopping street in Barcelona, Las Ramblas, and at least 14 people were fatally injured, is quickly made, the Islamist terrorist responsible for it. Already at the beginning of the year, the “Islamic state” (IS) had threatened to attack Spanish holiday destinations. On the evening of the IS committed to the attack, whose victims were primarily tourists. In the night to Friday there was also a further incident to the Catalan coastal town of Cambrils, approximately 100 kilometres South of Barcelona: According to the Police, five suspected terrorists were shot dead. According to media reports, they had planned a stop for Friday morning.
The Spanish Ministry of the interior knew something was up?
Already on Wednesday, there was unusually intense traffic controls on the motorway in the direction of the South, from the Spanish of César Martinez and his family were affected: “Armed units have stopped on the A7 motorway, Malaga with the car. We were treated like criminals and we had the feeling that something Bad is happening. But, apparently, this happened only a day later.” The police knew units something?
After the attack a 28-year-old Moroccans and a Person who comes from the Spanish exclave of Melilla were arrested. Thus, a further aspect of the device in the focus: for weeks, growing Immigration from Morocco to the Spanish coast, and the growing tension in the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Mellila.
The Moroccan and Spanish intelligence services work closely together, as it is called in government circles. So far, the Spaniards had also increases, therefore, the issue of illegal immigration with additional economic agreements in the countries of origin in the handle, but due to the crackdown in Libya against the refugees, the pressure on Morocco. A day stranded hundreds of refugees in Andalusia directly between the travelers.
In Spain, the state shows its strength in Catalonia
What seems to be clear: Catalonia has a security problem. The Catalan newspaper “El Periodico” pointed out several times already in the past year. The Autonomous Region like the Basque country, its own police, the “Mossos d’esquadra”, in short, the “Mossos”. They also have their own anti-terror unit, which is theoretically controlled by Madrid. Since months you are no longer following the media reports, according to the instructions of the Spanish capital. Many therefore see in the assassination, and above all: Without Spain, Catalonia is uncertain. And this is also the message that the Spanish speakers of the ruling Partido Popular, Rafael Hernando, taught today in the public television: “Now we need the experiences of the Spanish state in the fight against terrorism.”
Minute of silence with Prime Minister Rajoy and king Felipe VI
These statements have a double message: “don’t worry, we will help you” and “Catalonia needs Spain”. This is, in turn, however, in the context of the independence movements of the Region. 11. September is the Diada, the “national holiday” of the Catalans and on 1. October should be organized the Referendum on independence – the second, in the Catalan history. It is in accordance with the Spanish Constitution is illegal and has already passed for the first Time three years ago to arrests of local politicians. Hernando hopes, “that the police units are now working together again, and this battle of Spain is controlled, as it should be.”
With the stop policy is made
Over the heads of the dead and wounded in a fierce battle with the police units, who has the responsibility of fact to and who should conduct the investigation starts now. The Spanish head of government Mariano Rajoy took advantage of on Thursday evening the Moment, traveled to Barcelona and called for national unity and cohesion. He had no Plan B for the desired independence of the Catalans, but for now, he can expect that these efforts of the regional government to be suspended in view of the size of the assassination, first of all, as the Catalans now have other Worries.
Rajoy is proof of the political instinct, and has already announced that the national anti-terrorist unit – due to the history of the armed freedom struggle of the Basque Eta will coordinate the largest in Europe, the studies and the further safety measures for Catalonia. “We have won many battles against terrorism, also we are going to win a Spaniard,” says Rajoy. So far, the “Mossos have not responded” to that.