Spanish police officer allegedly infiltrated pro-Palestine and pro-independence movements

A 26-year-old Spanish police officer is alleged to have infiltrated pro-Palestinian and left-wing pro-independence groups for two years, according to the Catalan online publication Directa.

According to the news outlet, she was involved with the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, Endavant, and the Casal Popular 3 Voltes Rebel.

She allegedly participated in the mass protests against the sentencing of pro-independence leaders in the autumn of 2019.

The woman reportedly used a fake ID and also is alleged to have enrolled in a program run by Novact, funded by the Catalan government.

Despite leaving Barcelona in late 2020, citing relocation for work and her mother's fragile health, she is said to have maintained phone contact with activists in Barcelona until 2023.

Police "attack"

On Wednesday, the groups allegedly infiltrated – Endavant, Casal Popular Tres Voltes Rebel, the Palestinian Community of Catalonia and Enough Complicity with Israel – held a press conference, criticizing this new police "attack" on social and political movements.

They labeled it a "legacy of Franco" and condemned the fact that this spying, like that against the pro-independence movement using Pegasus spyware, is protected by the Franco-era official secrets law.

Undercover

According to Directa, in October 2018, the woman introduced herself to the president of the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, Natàlia Abu-Sharar, saying that her mother was from Madrid and her father was of Palestinian origin, and that she was interested in participating in the movement.

From there, she joined various groups over two years. Not only did she possess a fake ID, but she also made bank transfers and payments via Bizum from an account she had opened at Triodos Bank.

The woman is believed to have graduated from Ávila Police School in June 2018.

Natàlia Abu-Sharar stated that the last time they heard from the woman was in 2023, when she contacted Abu-Sharar personally.

"Since then, we haven't heard from her, and now it is impossible to reach her because she has everything deactivated. We don’t know where she is now," she added.

Some activists explained that they started to suspect the police officer after the broadcast of the TV3 report 'Infiltrados,' as they noticed "common patterns," such as individuals from outside Catalonia who move for work-related reasons, and then disappear citing sick family members.

Martí Majoral, a lawyer for Alerta Solidària, said that they are working on preparing a criminal lawsuit against the leadership of Spain's interior ministry.