Madrid aims to tackle yellow bow controversy with Catalan executive at next security summit

The Spanish government wants to tackle the issue of people removing yellow symbols showing support for jailed political leaders with the Catalan executive. Catalonia’s Mossos d’Esquadra police recently identified and warned a number of people (including an off-duty Guardia Civil officer) that they found removing the signs from public spaces.

The home affairs ministry suggests discussing the issue at the next security coordination meeting between the two executives. The Spanish Secretary of State for Security, Ana Botella called for "common sense" and said the legality of the "sensitive" situation must be analyzed, while avoiding an escalation in the dispute between those for and against independence.  

Last weekend, Mossos officers in the area of Tarragona caught a group of 14 people removing yellow bows  showing solidarity with jailed and exiled leaders, one of whom was an off-duty Guardia Civil police officer.