Police made enquiries about Es-Satty prior to attacks

Spanish police officers visited the mosque in Ripoll and enquired about the imam Abdelbaki es-Satty, considered the mastermind behind the Barcelona and Cambrils terror attacks, prior to the events on August 17, 2017. This information was revealed to the 17-A investigation committee by the Annour Mosque secretary, Hamid Barbach, yesterday.

In response to a question from the CUP MP Natàlia Sànchez, Barbach said that the state police visited the heads of the Islamic Association at least three times. “One of the times I was there and they asked about Es-Satty, to know if he was still there,” he recounted in a report published by ACN.

Sànchez asked him if the Spanish police had addressed them about the Ripoll imam on more than one occasion to try and clarify the link between the imam and the State intelligence services. Barbach said the agents wanted to know whether he still preached at the mosque and other questions related to regulations and documentation.

Barbach stressed the need to work together to “expel the poison that pollutes our city and our rich culture.” This was one of the aims of the committee, as well as the importance of working with young people to avoid their possible radicalisation.