Public prosecution requests 27 years in prison for 8 pro-independence CDR activists for terrorism  

Spain's Public Prosecutor's Office has requested 27 years in prison for eight pro-independence activists arrested as part of Operation Judas.  

The members of the Committees of the Defense of the Republic (CDR) are accused of belonging to a terrorist organization, possession of explosives and attempted terrorist damage. 

The Public Prosecutor has asked for eight-year prison sentences for four other individuals being investigated for belonging to a terrorist organization. 

The defendants will benefit from the amnesty bill due to be passed by Congress after the agreement of pro-independence parties to support Pedro Sánchez's reelection as Spanish prime minister. 

Terrorist organization 

The Prosecutor's Office believes that the defendants joined a Tactical Response Team (TRT), a group of people from various CDR committees, who they allege formed a "parallel terrorist organization, of a clandestine and stable nature, whose objective was to carry out violent actions or attacks with explosives and incendiary substances."  

A request has also been made that all the defendants be disqualified from educational, sporting or leisure roles or professions for ten years in addition to the prison sentence imposed.

Prosecutors have also asked that the eight main defendants are also being ordered to serve eight years of supervised release. 

60-page indictment 

Miguel Ángel Carballo, chief prosecutor at Spain's National Court in Madrid, laid out in a 60-page indictment the reasons that he believes those prosecuted should be convicted. 

The members of the TRT, he said, showed "evidence of severe radicalism" and formed an "underground group of individuals of the utmost confidence and totally dedicated to the cause." 

The document points out that the defendants, before they were arrested in September 2019, had participated in some of the most forceful demonstrations of the CDR, such as lifting barriers on toll roads or spilling oil on the C-55 road where the entourage that was moving Catalan political prisoners to Lledoners prison had to pass. 

The defendants, according to the prosecution, formed a hierarchical structure with various roles and specializations. 

The prosecutor says that they maintained permanent contact via instant messaging, especially using Signal. Several groups were created with names including Resistance, Ninja Turtles, Batman, and No Surrender. 

The court confirmed earlier this month that the 12 pro-independence activists would be tried for terrorism.   

Pro-independence legal platform Alerta Solidària criticized the court for "rushing" ahead with the trial before the amnesty bill, which includes the 12 activists, comes into effect.