Spanish police accuse pro-independence leaders of acting as if in ‘organized crime’

The Spanish Guardia Civil police claims the moves towards independence were taken “with a strategy typical of organized crime.” In a report seen by the Catalan News Agency, the police force argues that the leaders working for a Catalan state did not want to make any details of the plans to bring about independence public. The report, which also states that phone calls between officials reveal cryptic language and secret meetings taking place, has been handed to Spain’s Supreme Court, which is investigating the independence case.

According to the Guardia Civil, one of the relevant factors in the plans for independence was keeping the public ready to demonstrate, for which the report says the “public and private” media were “key.” In particular, the report points to Jaume Roures, the businessman owner of Mediapro, one of the most important audiovisual firms in the country.

Yet, on hearing of the accusations, Roures denied any involvement in the independence bid. “On October 1 [referendum day], the Spanish state powers looked ridiculous and they are now trying to find guilty people to explain their ineffectiveness,” he said in an interview with the Catalan public radio.