Barcelona, 22 September 2026, The Mossos d'Esquadra will not sanction the two officers who attended a teachers' assembly in Barcelona on 6 May 2026 as part of an intelligence operation, Superintendent Carles Hernández has confirmed. Head of the General Information Commissioner within the regional police force, Hernández appeared before the Parliament of Catalonia this Tuesday to report that the internal investigation into the incident has been archived, with authorities concluding that no legal violations occurred.
While no disciplinary action will be taken, Hernández acknowledged that the operation was poorly planned and executed. He rejected calls to apologise, distinguishing his stance from that of Interior Minister Núria Parlon, who previously described the infiltration as a mistake. "I am not apologizing because I believe I do not have to apologize," Hernández stated, though he conceded that the action could be seen as inappropriate.
The operation, authorised by territorial heads of the Information Commissioner at the time, was conducted without the knowledge of either Parlon or former Director General Josep Lluís Trapero. Hernández clarified that the agents, operating undercover but without false identities, were not there to gather intelligence from the assembly itself but to assess potential risks related to anticipated demonstrations and road closures. He described the activity as a "discreet operational task" rather than an infiltration.
The objective was not to obtain information from the assembly as such, but to use it only for the demonstrations and road closures that were anticipated.
Hernández stressed that the Information Commissioner has held responsibility for monitoring social and labour conflicts since 2011, under a framework supported by Catalan, Spanish, and international legislation, including jurisprudence from Spanish and European courts. He added that while the operation respected legal boundaries, the force has since tightened oversight: all such actions now require his direct approval, though none have been requested since the incident.
Political backlash and judicial process ongoing
Opposition parties criticised Hernández for failing to align with Parlon’s apology, with the CUP demanding his resignation. He refused, stating his position remains at the disposal of police leadership. "Political and operational criteria are not always aligned," he noted.
Three judicial proceedings remain open at the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), initiated by union complaints. Hernández confirmed that the Mossos are awaiting developments in those cases. New Director General Ferran López and Chief Commissioner Sílvia Catà attended the parliamentary session, alongside former chief Miquel Esquius.
Reported by ara.cat, Europa Press Barcelona, Ara Cat.
