Catalan Interior Minister Núria Parlon stated that the man arrested for the murder of a woman in Esplugues de Llobregat had been involved in "some incidents" and "altercations" across Spain. Speaking on RTVE, Parlon did not confirm a specific incident in Burgos involving stone-throwing at police, but acknowledged the suspect had a record of previous incidents.
Parlon described the suspect's behaviour as "delirious" and said he was "totally unbalanced", according to a tweet from Cafè d'idees_rtve. She added that the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, are not working on a jihadist hypothesis for the murder. Instead, they believe the man acted in a state of "delirium".
Regarding reports that the man shouted proclamations before the murder, Parlon said this information was unconfirmed but also could not be denied. She reiterated that a terrorist motive is not the working hypothesis.
Police Response and Public Perception
Parlon praised the police response in Esplugues, noting the suspect was arrested within two hours and taken into custody. She acknowledged the shocking nature of the events but urged the public not to "feed fear". The minister criticised those who link such incidents to migration or religious beliefs.
She highlighted the "very big blow to public opinion and citizens' perceptions of insecurity" caused by the incident. Parlon also stressed the importance of the Daga plan, which aims to "remove bladed weapons from the street". She explained that this plan is continually adapted to current realities.
Legislative Changes and Youth Gangs
Parlon advocated for further legislative changes concerning the possession of both firearms and bladed weapons, particularly within the context of criminal activities. She also addressed the issue of youth gangs, confirming their existence and emphasising the need for vigilance. The minister stated that preventive measures should be taken whenever possible "to avoid being too late" in addressing this phenomenon.
