Former CNI Head in Girona Denies Contact with 17-A Imam

A representative from the National Intelligence Center in Girona denies having had contact with the imam considered the mastermind of the attacks.

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IA

Generic image of security and intelligence.

The former head of the National Intelligence Center (CNI) in Girona has denied having any contact with Abdelbaki Es Satty, the imam from Ripoll considered the mastermind of the August 17, 2017 attacks.

During his appearance before the commission of inquiry into the 17-A attacks in Congress, the agent stated that his unit had "no type of contact" with Es Satty. He indicated that he learned the imam's identity after the attacks occurred, having received information about prior interviews conducted to assess if he could be useful as a source.
The CNI head in Girona highlighted that they received "no type of indication" or threat originating from Ripoll or its surroundings. Regarding potential contacts from other CNI units with the imam, he explained the center's "compartmentalization principle," stating he was unaware if other areas had maintained a relationship with him.
Concerning coordination with other security forces, he maintained it was "fluid, constant, and permanent" with the Mossos d'Esquadra, Guardia Civil, and National Police. He assured that no police force detected signs of radicalization or threat in Ripoll before the attacks.
On possible failures to detect the attacks, he framed the situation within the context of a "high jihadist threat" in Spain and Europe in 2017, recalling that "zero risk does not exist" and total security is "impossible" to achieve.
Finally, he admitted that after the attacks, the CNI reviewed and adapted its internal procedures to improve threat prevention and detection, aiming to be "more effective."