Clash between Joan Garriga (Vox) and pro-independence demonstrators at the tribute to the victims of 17-A

BarcelonaNine years after the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, the call from various groups to clarify the unknowns of 17-A still remains, but at Monday's tribute, controversy erupted due to an altercation between the spokesperson for Vox in Parliament, Joan Garriga, and pro-independence demonstrators convened by the platform Exigim Responsabilitats and the ANC. Specifically, the event that was meant to commemorate the victims ended with a brawl in Plaça Sant Jaume, with a shouting match directed at the far-right and Garriga's unsuccessful attempt to grab a black pro-independence flag.

How did this tug-of-war happen? Garriga went straight to the group of independentists, positioned behind a fence and with the presence of Mossos, to rebuke them for the insults during the media attention he had staged just minutes before as the spokesperson for Vox. "You are rude and you are presentable, today was not the day," reproached the leader of Santiago Abascal's party, according to informed sources, criticizing the interruptions he suffered. But this only further inflamed the atmosphere and the tug-of-war erupted. The shouting that had been heard a moment before escalated, and Garriga even wanted to grab a black flag from one of the attendees at the rally, which was not very numerous. However, it didn't last long, and after emboldening himself towards his detractors, he made his way and left, leaving behind this moment of tension that occurred after the event.

Following the controversy, Garriga stated on X that "separatism has once again staged a grotesque spectacle," "using an event intended to honor the victims to heckle" Vox representatives and "disrespect them." Thus, he denounced that they called him "Garriga terrorist," although informed sources also add the qualifier "botiflers" (traitors) and the usual cry "Puta Espanya" (Damn Spain). Garriga also comments that he did not make any "provocation" and that his party only intended to "remember and honor the victims and point out the inaction of those responsible," referring to "Islamism" which Vox denounces as "advancing".

On the other hand, several of the independentist demonstrators reiterated their criticisms against "the killer State" to which they demand "responsibility," given that they directly link it to the attacks. It is true that during the event they expressed these criticisms with signs and mostly in silence, despite some sporadic shouting, but the clash occurred afterwards, during the media attention and immediately after.

It is not the first time that controversy has erupted at the tribute event for the minutes of silence, presences, and absences; when the minute of silence was broken by shouts from some sovereignist demonstrators, the then president of the Parliament, Laura Borràs, was at the center of criticism for having greeted some of the group members.

From remembrance to investigation

Beyond the controversy, Barcelona has remembered the victims with their families, victim associations, institutions, and emergency services with a minute of silence. This year, it was held in Plaça Sant Jaume instead of La Rambla due to ongoing works. The President of the Parliament, Josep Rull, was the highest authority present at the event, which was also attended by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, and the delegate of the Spanish government in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto. Javier Martínez, father of Xavi, the boy who died in the La Rambla attack at just three years old, has denounced that the victims feel "alone".

In the same vein, the leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, stated that the victims' families "deserve the right to know the whole truth related to the case, and unfortunately, they have not had it easy". "We will never forget the proven links between Spanish intelligence and police services and the imam who was the mastermind of the operation," he added on X.

Words similar to those of the CUP: "Nine years later, we continue to demand clarity. There are still too many unanswered questions," she stated on social media. For her part, the general secretary of ERC, Elisenda Alamany, also stressed that they do not forget the victims and that they work "for peace, justice, and reparation." Far from the political debate, the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, commented on X that they keep "the memory of the victims alive" and prescribed "more coexistence, democracy, and peace" in the face of "hatred and barbarism." On the other hand, the leader of Aliança Catalana, Sílvia Orriols, who did attend the tribute in Barcelona this year, lashed out at "three demonstrators" who, as she was leaving, told her "we don't want you, Orriols," which proves, in her opinion, that "even at a moment like this they don't know how to behave." But politically, Aliança has distanced itself from Junts and the CUP and stated on social media that "Catalonia continues to have not eradicated the foci of Salafist radicalization" nine years after the attacks.