elpais.com
Catalan Police Shift to Preventative Measures After 2017 Attacks
The 2017 Barcelona terror attacks prompted a reform of Catalan police strategies, shifting from reactive to preventative measures involving community engagement, resulting in 159 individuals identified at risk in 2024, with most diverted from extremism through non-arrest interventions; however, the rise of the xenophobic Aliança Catalana party highlights the complexity of countering radicalization.
- What were the key failures in the lead-up to the 2017 Barcelona attacks, and how has the Catalan police response evolved since then?
- The 2017 Barcelona attacks, planned and executed by a group of young men from Ripoll, exposed failures in Spain's preventative measures. Despite killing 16, the attack wasn't as planned, highlighting intelligence gaps. Subsequently, Catalan police expanded preventative efforts, including collaborations with social services and community groups.
- How does the rise of the xenophobic Aliança Catalana party in Ripoll relate to the broader issue of radicalization in Catalonia, and how is the police responding?
- Catalan police now prioritize early intervention and prevention of radicalization, engaging various community stakeholders. In 2024 alone, they identified 159 individuals at risk, diverting most from violent extremism through proactive measures rather than arrests. This approach reflects a shift towards community engagement and early intervention.
- What are the long-term implications of the Catalan police's preventative approach to radicalization, and what challenges remain in addressing the complexities of violent extremism?
- The rise of Aliança Catalana, a xenophobic party in Ripoll, demonstrates the link between social polarization and violent extremism. While not currently under investigation, their anti-immigrant rhetoric is being analyzed by authorities as a potential driver of radicalization. The effectiveness of this preventative approach remains to be seen, particularly in addressing the rise of far-right extremism.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the Mossos d'Esquadra's preventative approach as highly successful, emphasizing the number of individuals identified and the low number of cases referred to the prosecutor. The headline and opening paragraphs focus on the police's success in preventing terrorism, possibly overshadowing the complexities of the issue and the role of other societal factors. The inclusion of the xenophobic party's success is used to highlight the Mossos' efforts, framing their preventative work as a necessary response to such political climate.
Language Bias
While the article attempts to maintain objectivity, the repeated emphasis on the successes of the Mossos d'Esquadra and the use of terms like "xenophobic" to describe Aliança Catalana subtly shape the reader's perception. The description of Aliança Catalana's actions as "explosive" and their messages as being "amplified against Muslims and irregular immigration" carries a negative connotation. More neutral phrasing could be used.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the preventative measures taken by the Mossos d'Esquadra, but omits details about other potential preventative strategies or governmental policies that could have played a role in preventing the 2017 attacks or the rise of extremist groups. It also doesn't delve into the effectiveness of these other potential approaches. The lack of comparative analysis limits the reader's ability to fully assess the effectiveness of the Mossos' approach. The article also omits discussion of potential failures in other areas of society, such as education or social services, that may have contributed to radicalization.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by focusing primarily on the successes of the Mossos' preventative approach while downplaying or omitting potential shortcomings or alternative approaches. While acknowledging the challenges, the narrative subtly positions the Mossos' strategy as the primary, and perhaps only, effective solution to counter-terrorism and extremist ideologies.
Gender Bias
The article mentions that most of the individuals identified as at risk of radicalization are young men. While this is factual reporting, the article does not delve deeper into potential gendered dynamics of radicalization or whether different prevention strategies might be necessary for men and women. This lack of discussion could reinforce implicit biases.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a positive impact on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through the Mossos d'Esquadra's proactive approach to preventing terrorism and violent extremism. Their preventative measures, community engagement, and focus on de-radicalization efforts directly contribute to creating more peaceful and just societies. The reduction in individuals progressing to violent extremism demonstrates progress towards SDG target 16.1 (significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere).