Five envelopes with explosives were identified in Spain in the last week, sent to the President of the Government, the Ukrainian embassy, the Defense Minister, a satellite center and an arms company, the Government reported Thursday.
“Both the characteristics of the envelopes and the content”, material and substances commonly used in fireworks, “are similar in all five cases”, said the Secretary of State for Security of the Spanish Government, Rafael Pérez, at a press conference today. in Madrid.
The envelope sent to the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, was intercepted last week, on November 24, and the rest were identified on Wednesday and today.
A man was injured this Wednesday without seriousness at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid due to the explosion of the device that was inside the envelope.
In other cases, the explosive material was deactivated or a controlled detonation was carried out.
The Secretary of State said that it was necessary to wait for the analyzes and studies “of various kinds” carried out by police experts, and for the judicial investigations to become known and reveal more details.
Rafael Pérez also explained that the existence of the envelope with explosives sent to the prime minister last week was only revealed today because the authorities concluded that it was similar to the one that arrived at the Ukrainian embassy on Wednesday.
Also for this reason, on Wednesday the fact was reported to the judicial authorities, who said that they are investigating the case of the Ukrainian embassy as a possible crime of terrorism.
The Secretary of State said that all the envelopes were sent by ordinary mail from Spanish territory, but he did not want to give more information because the investigations were in an initial phase, because “prudence” was needed and out of “respect” for justice. and the ongoing police investigation.
Rafael Pérez also insisted on a “message of tranquility” to the population and guaranteed the preparation and professionalism of the Spanish security forces to deal with this type of case.
In addition, he reiterated that the security and protection measures of all public buildings and diplomatic representations in Spain have been reinforced and said that, for the moment, there are no reasons “to convene the group to assess the level of anti-terrorism alert.”
The Secretary of State also refused to reveal whether the Spanish authorities are aware of similar cases in other European countries “that have helped Ukraine.”
The Instalaza company, in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon region (northeast Spain), recipient of one of the envelopes with explosives, produces military equipment that was sent by Spain to Ukraine, to support the Ukrainian armed forces, shortly after the beginning of the Russian attack, on February 24.
Ukraine has been under Russian military attack since February, in an aggression condemned by the international community in general.
Russia today condemned “any terrorist threat or act” after sending these letters with explosives in Spain.
“We condemn any terrorist threat or act,” the embassy of the Russian Federation wrote in a statement posted today on social media.
The Russian embassy in Madrid said it issued this statement “in light of the information disseminated in the Spanish media about explosive packages sent to the Ukrainian Embassy in Spain and official Spanish entities.”
“Any terrorist threat or act, especially directed against a diplomatic mission, is totally reprehensible,” the text adds.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, said today that the embassy is improving its security systems and defended that Russia should be declared a “terrorist state.”
Source: TSF
