Three people were arrested in July and a fourth is under investigation over the alleged sabotage of a railway branch serving the potash mine in Súria, in the Bages area of Barcelona province, on 18 April, according to Europa Press, citing the Guardia Civil.

Residents and businesses in Súria and Cardona were left without internet after a main fibre-optic branch was cut, affecting more than 4,000 subscribers. Police also say the damage disrupted the activity of the mining company, which uses the line to move material from its facilities towards the Port of Barcelona.

Damage to mine railway and local fibre network

The railway branch is owned by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, the Catalan public railway operator. Investigators say about 300 metres of track linking the company’s facilities with the port were damaged.

  • The alleged sabotage took place on 18 April during protests called on social media between 17 and 19 April against the activities of the Súria potash-mining company.
  • Police say rocks were placed on the track, sections were dismantled and barricades were erected to prevent a train from leaving.
  • Material damage and economic losses are estimated at about €100,000.

The action was claimed by the Revoltes de la Terra collective, according to the investigation.

“The sabotage of this infrastructure could have generated a risk capable of compromising people’s physical integrity or lives,” the investigation concluded, according to the Guardia Civil.

Joint investigation by regional and national police

The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police, and the Guardia Civil carried out the operation jointly. Investigators describe those under investigation as alleged members of an organised environmental extremist group that used methods intended to make its members harder to identify.

The three detainees are accused of aggravated criminal damage, public disorder and belonging to a criminal group. A fourth person is being investigated in connection with the same alleged offences.

Reported by Source Text Link, Germán González, Guillermo Peris Peris, larazon.es, Jaume Mas, Pere Roca Soler, R. Bruna.