Puigdemont files police report against men in Spanish army tank

Carles Puigdemont, currently in Brussels, has filed a Police report with the Spanish justice against the two individuals shown in the viral vídeo from December 15. In it, a first individual says that he is “looking for a solution to Spain’s problem,” and then says that he found one, while showing the Spanish army tank he is riding on. He continues: “Let’s give Puigdemont a surprise,” describing the army-grade machinery as “70 tons of pure love and democracy.”

In the police report, Puigdemont describes the events and expresses that they could be constituted as hate crimes and threats. Inasmuch, he demands the men in the video be identified, along with whoever allowed the individuals access to the tank.

Vandalism and negligence

In fact, although he is in uniform, the man in the video is not a soldier, as a Spanish Defense ministry source told the Catalan News Agency. The same source explained that a soldier let two civilian friends enter military facilities and he “negligently” let them climb up onto the tank. The ministry used the term “vandalism” to describe the events.

“Spain’s double standards are a disgrace,” said Pablo Iglesias

The message also includes a threat to the leader of left-wing Podemos party, Pablo Iglesias. “Coletas (a derogatory way to say ‘man with a ponytail’), you're next, asshole.” The video ends with the man saying Arriba España, (equivalent to ‘Long live Spain’), which was commonly used by authorities and enthusiasts of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

Pablo Iglesias responded by saying that “Spain’s double standards are a disgrace.” He added that in Spain, “puppeteers and Twitter users go to prison, while fascists go unpunished,” referring to several controversial cases.