Illegal group dedicated to evicting squatters in Spain dismantled
There are 16 detainees. Suspects acted "in some cases, motivated by hatred and discrimination based on origin, race or ethnicity".
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Mundo Espanha
The Mossos d'Esquadra have dismantled a group that was dedicated to evicting 'squatters' in the Catalonia region of Spain. According to the Spanish press, 16 people were arrested and the criminal organization operated under the name of a legal company to carry out extrajudicial evictions. However, it used coercive and violent practices in exchange for money.
In a statement, the authorities revealed that the members of the group, which operated under the name 'Antiokupa Tarraco', acted "in some cases, motivated by hatred and discrimination based on origin, race or ethnicity, having been particularly violent and expeditious against people belonging to groups of certain national or ethnic origins".
The company operated under the pretext of offering its clients a mediation service to evict tenants from the properties they owned. In the first phase, they tried to get the occupants to leave voluntarily through a series of agreements, but if they refused, the extortions and violent harassment began, according to the Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.
Initially, the group made repeated visits to the tenants, in addition to several threatening phone calls. If, even so, they did not get what they wanted, they would cut off the tenants' basic services and cause damage to the properties.
"They increased the seriousness of the acts, causing serious damage, false complaints to various public entities, break-ins, assaults and even, in some cases, violent robberies and serious injuries to some of the tenants," the police said.
During the operation, the police seized two firearms, several illegal weapons, documents and large amounts of money in cash and in current accounts.
The detainees are between 17 and 59 years old and, in addition to the 16 arrested, another 11 people are being investigated. Of the suspects, five have criminal records for coercion, threats, insults, damage and theft.
After being brought to court, two suspects were remanded in custody and six others were released on bail.
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