The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, once again yields to the pressures of the independence movement and the National Police will open an internal investigation against the officers who yesterday removed estelades flags and subdued, with charges, Barça supporters near the Martínez Valero stadium, ahead of the match between the blaugranas and Elche.
After Junts, ERC, and the CUP demanded explanations and accountability from Marlaska for the officers’ actions and FC Barcelona issued a statement condemning the “unjustified use of force” against its fans, the Government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, contacted his counterpart in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, who confirmed that the National Police “will open a confidential inquiry to clarify the facts and to take the appropriate decisions”.
The secessionism was activated when, early Monday morning, a video began circulating on social media showing several National Police officers removing independence flags from Barça fans who were about to enter the Elche stadium and how one of them was charged by several police officers, whom he tried to confront with punches after receiving the first baton blows.
“In a healthy society, this would be intolerable. In Spain, it is a merit. They ooze hatred towards Catalan identity,” stated the leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, while his spokesperson in Congress, Míriam Nogueras, called for those “animals” to pay for the “abuse and mistreatment” against the blaugrana supporters.
The number two of ERC, Elisenda Alamany, accused the officers of acting for “ideological reasons” and with “incompetence,” urging Marlaska to appear and to open an “immediate investigation” to clarify the facts and “determine if the police action adhered to the principles of proportionality and respect for fundamental rights”.
The CUP pointed to the “most progressive government in history” for “beating a young man for carrying an estelada”.
