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Date Published: 09/08/2024

Separatist fugitive escapes from under the nose of Spanish police

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Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont sensationally returned to Spain this week after years in exile

Separatist fugitive escapes from under the nose of Spanish police

The police force in Barcelona is coming under international scrutiny and widespread ridicule after exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was allowed to escape right from under their noses. The head of the Junts political party returned to Spain a few days ago after almost seven years on the run and is the subject of a long-standing arrest warrant.

Earlier this year, Puigdemont was cleared of all rebellion and sedition charges under the controversial Amnesty Law, a move that sparked protests and demonstrations up and down the country. But he’s still wanted for embezzlement of public money which he allegedly used to finance the October 2017 illegal referendum, so he should have been arrested on the spot.

Incredibly, the brazen politician has been spotted strolling through the streets of Barcelona and he even gave a speech to thousands of people at the Arc de Triomf during Socialist Salvador Ills’s investiture debate.

And while dozens of members of Barcelona’s police force, called the Mossos d'Esquadra, were standing by, the separatist leader was allowed to slip out the back and away.

The bizarre situation is steeped in intrigue, and two police officers have actually been arrested, accused of aiding and abetting the fugitive. But despite widespread accusations that the Mossos d'Esquadra is in cahoots with Puigdemont, police union rep Inma Viudes insists that the venue was took packed with spectators to make an arrest possible.

“With more than 2,000 people around, going in there and arresting Puigdemont would have caused a public order problem and we have to avoid that at all costs,” he said.

“We had to look for the right moment to arrest him.”

Of course, that moment never came and despite a widespread manhunt, he appears to have vanished into thin air.

However, far from laying low after this fortuitous escape, Puigdemont has instead taunted those hunting him, repeatedly posting the phrase “We are still here” on social media.

For now, the fugitive’s whereabouts remain unknown.

In other news: British residents in Spain urged to get their TIE cards as soon as possible

Image: Roberto Martin/X

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