​Mariano Rajoy highlights "fluid and constant" coordination between public authorities in wake of attacks in Catalonia

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government appeared following the meeting of the Council of Ministers to assess the situation following last Thursday's attacks in Catalonia. In his speech, he stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that the main core of the terrorist cell that attacked Las Ramblas in Barcelona and the town of Cambrils in Tarragona was "completely broken up barely 100 hours after the attack".

Mariano Rajoy highlighted the preparation and capabilities of the Mossos d´Esquadra [Regional Police Force of Catalonia] and the work of all the State law enforcement agencies and intelligence services that have collaborated with one another since the outset of the investigations.

The President of the Government confirmed that henceforth the investigation will be coordinated by CITCO (Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Intelligence Centre), which will include cooperation from other countries.

Coordinated response from public authorities

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoMariano Rajoy claimed that, following news of the events unfolding in Barcelona, all of the protocols for action between the public authorities were activated, with two main priorities: immediate attention for the victims and the investigation.

On this point, the President of the Government reiterated that "coordination between senior police officials has been fluid and constant, both in terms of political decision-making and at a technical level".

He also highlighted the attitude of the President of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, and of the Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau. "Right from the very outset, they found a way, as did the Government of Spain, to provide a response to an urgent and dramatic situation which went beyond any other political consideration".

In describing the chain of events in detail following the attacks, Mariano Rajoy stressed that "right from the very outset", collaboration was stepped up between Central Government and the Regional Government of Catalonia, with the constitution of a crisis cabinet that received information in real time from the executive control and monitoring centre which "was manned at all times by members of the Guardia Civil and the National Police Force".

The President of the Government also stressed the "cooperation and loyalty" between the different police forces present on the Terrorist Threat Assessment Board, which resolved to maintain the level of risk at level 4, albeit with the imposition of additional measures.

He also recalled that he immediately travelled to Barcelona, as did the Vice-President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, and the Minister for Home Affairs, Juan Ignacio Zoido, to tackle the situation on the ground.

He furthermore expressly acknowledged the "immediate reaction" of the King and Queen of Spain and their presence in Barcelona, where they conveyed the "far-reaching solidarity of the whole of Spain with those affected".

Fight against terrorism

Mariano Rajoy declared that all of the State law enforcement agencies, without exception, are backed by the government. Over the last 13 years, "they have detected and arrested almost 800 people for their ties with Jihadi terrorism", pointed out the President of the Government.

According to the President of the Government, "the basis of our response" has been to have effective security forces with scientific and technological capacities, as well as "judges and public prosecutors that are aware of the importance of their investigative counter-terrorism work".

Mariano Rajoy added that in Spain, "we have revised our Criminal Code on two occasions to combat the new forms of Jihadi terrorism. We will do this again in the future should this prove necessary".

Political unity

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoThe President of the Government underlined that police and institutional coordination, together with political unity, complemented by essential international cooperation "are the most effective instruments for defeating the terrorists".

In this regard, Mariano Rajoy reiterated the call made by the Ministry of Home Affairs to all the political forces that have not yet signed the counter-terrorism pact. In his opinion, political unity is "what the victims deserve, what our citizens want and what ensures that democratic societies do not become unstable when this type of attack takes place".

Unity, he added, "must offer results in the form of reforms and improvements that provide our judges, police officers and public prosecutors with the best tools to fight this scourge".

The President of the Government urged all citizens to take part in the demonstration to be held on Saturday in Barcelona, which will include the presence of the King and representatives from all the political and social forces. "We will send out a clear message of unity, condemnation of terrorism and love for the city of Barcelona".

International cooperation

The President of the Government also pointed out that the fight against terrorism must continue to be the priority on the agenda of European and international meetings. "We are facing a global threat that requires a global response from all of us".

In this regard, he announced that he has asked the French President, Emmanuel Macron, to tackle this issue at the summit to be held by the Heads of State and Government of France, Germany, Italy and Spain on Monday in Paris. He also indicated that Spain is promoting the creation of a European Charter of Victims' Rights.

Attending to victims is priority

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoDuring his appearance, Mariano Rajoy insisted that, now that the cell has been broken up, the priority continues to be attending to the victims and their families and recovering civic normality as swiftly as possible.

On this issue, the President of the Government expressed his recognition for the attention given to the victims by anonymous citizens from throughout Catalonia, from healthcare personnel and from the Civil Protection services. He also referred to the responsibility of the media in covering the events as they unfolded.

He also pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has given instructions to all the Spanish embassies and consulates overseas to "give top priority to processing those visas that the families of victims may require in order to travel to Barcelona".

Non official translation