The Barcelona Jihadist Accuses CNI of Knowing the Intentions of the Attack

Mohamed Houli Chemlal, sentenced to 43 years in prison for his involvement in the Barcelona and Cambrils attacks, has appeared before Congress. During his intervention, Houli accused the CNI of having knowledge of the intentions of the Ripoll imam, Abdelbaki Es Satty, to carry out the 2017 terrorist actions.

According to his version, the agents allowed the imam to radicalize the group, which led to the attacks that caused 16 deaths and over 300 injuries.

The terrorist, who appeared in the Investigation Commission on the attacks in the Lower House, explained that, according to another member of the jihadist cell, Mohamed Hichami, the imam told them they should leave home because there was going to be a CNI presence.

Houli, who had already been tried and sentenced by the National Court, justified his statements by saying that now, being convicted, he had nothing to lose. However, he acknowledged that he could not present evidence to corroborate his accusations.

Houli's accusation has caused controversy, especially because he has not been able to provide tangible elements to support his claims. Although the theory that the intelligence services might have had information about the attacks is not new, Houli's statements have reignited the debate in Congress.

The Barcelona and Cambrils attacks, carried out in August 2017, were the result of a jihadist cell operating in the region. After the explosion in the Alcanar house, where the explosives were being prepared, the terrorists attacked the promenade of La Rambla in Barcelona and then in Cambrils. In these events, besides Houli, other members of the cell, such as Hichami and Es Satty, lost their lives.

In his intervention, Houli also claimed that the imam Es Satty asked them to stay away from their homes, which, according to him, was to avoid being detected by CNI agents.

This episode comes in a context where the Spanish government has shown interest in declassifying certain CNI documents related to the attacks.

The declassification could reveal more details about the possible connections between the terrorists and the intelligence services, but a final decision on the scope of this measure has not yet been made. Meanwhile, there is significant attention on the development of the investigation.

The process in the Investigation Commission aims to clarify all the details surrounding the attacks and determine the responsibilities of the different parties involved, including the CNI.