Recognize operational failures
Recently, the Mossos d’Esquadra have admitted that there were significant ‘errors’ in their strategy to intercept Carles Puigdemont during his return to Catalonia on August 8. These revelations arise from a report sent to the Supreme Court, detailing various shortcomings in the planning of the operation.
A flawed follow-up strategy
The report, requested by judge Pablo Llarena, indicates that the agents did not consider the possibility that Puigdemont could leave the country again. Furthermore, the drone tasked with monitoring his arrival was detected as losing focus at the most crucial moment, just before the Junt leader returned to Waterloo.
Lack of foresight
The Mossos expected that Puigdemont, after seven years of exile, would return to participate in a plenum of investiture, without anticipating a possible escape scenario. This resulted in the failure to take adequate measures to ensure his arrest.
Unexpected circumstances
The report highlights that the conditions at the time were not what had been predicted. For example, the assistance of the president of the Parliament, Josep Rull, to the situation was not properly controlled. The agents were not able to inspect the Parliament until the early hours of the 8th, which limited their ability to act.
The key moment
During his speech, which took place between 9:03 and 9:10, the drone stopped following Puigdemont, at which point he entered a restricted area. The footage shows that the moment he disappeared from sight, coordinated movements took place that facilitated his escape.
A well-planned maneuver
The Mossos d’Esquadra have acknowledged that they fell into a ‘very well designed trap’, as all the agents, except one, were focused on Junts’ entourage, believing that Puigdemont was among them. The pro-independence leader’s phrase about an ‘important session’ was interpreted as an indication that he was addressing Parliament.
Reflections on the future
This episode highlights the need for a comprehensive review of security and monitoring protocols in future operations. The ability to adapt to unforeseen situations is essential to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again. Reflection on these operational mistakes could be key to improving police actions in Catalonia.
