Spain's Congress has summoned the former head of the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) deployment in Girona to testify regarding the August 2017 terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils. This appearance is part of a parliamentary inquiry looking into the use of mobile phones by government members and high-ranking state officials.
The inquiry will focus on the role of Abdelbaki Es Satty, the Ripoll imam identified as the planner of the attacks. The commission aims to clarify whether the CNI had prior knowledge of Es Satty's radicalisation and if surveillance failures could have prevented the attacks, according to officials.
Scrutiny over Es Satty's contacts
The summons follows the release of information suggesting possible contacts between CNI members and Es Satty before the attacks. The parliamentary commission will also investigate other aspects related to state security and the management of intelligence information.
This investigation seeks to understand the extent of intelligence awareness regarding the terror cell's activities and any potential missteps in monitoring individuals linked to the plot. The findings could lead to recommendations for improved intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism measures.
