Madrid mayor sends Marlaska document showing 'cobblestones and large knives' at Sol camp

Madrid City Council claims it has documented cobblestones taken from nearby construction sites and large knives inside the tents at the Puerta del Sol encampment. José Luis Martínez-Almeida will send the report to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and to the Government Delegate in Madrid.

## City Council documents cobblestones and knives

**José Luis Martínez-Almeida**, mayor of Madrid, announced on Wednesday that he will send a new document to Interior Minister **Fernando Grande-Marlaska** and to the Government Delegate in the Community of Madrid, **Francisco Martín Aguirre**. According to the mayor, the report shows that some of the people taking part in the Puerta del Sol encampment have stockpiled cobblestones and that large knives have been found inside the tents.

The document states that the cobblestones were found in the tents and had been taken from construction sites near the protest. According to the mayor's own description, the knives are large and clearly not for domestic use, since they are not needed to cut a sandwich. **OKDIARIO** has filmed some of those knives as well as manual cutting tools such as box cutters.

This second document adds to the request the City Council had already issued on Tuesday to Martín Aguirre, urging him to clear the encampment under his own powers before going down the judicial route. The council's intention is for the Government Delegate to state whether he still considers the Sol gathering a peaceful encampment.

## 'They are not peaceful protesters'

Almeida made his remarks at **Valdebebas**, where he inaugurated the Alfonso Ussía Cultural Centre. There he said he does not believe 'that cobblestones have an eminently peaceful character', but rather that 'they can be used as throwing weapons'. As for the knives, the **Partido Popular** (Spanish conservative party) leader insisted they are large and are carried by protesters who are at Sol as part of the encampment.

The mayor added that camping stoves for heating food have also been detected and that violent altercations have taken place. 'They are not peaceful protesters, this is not just a housing protest camp,' he said. In his view, the gathering 'is turning into something completely different, with cobblestones, large knives, camping stoves, fights and altercations'.

## Possible lawsuit and the delegate's powers

Almeida pointed out that the document will serve 'for the purposes of a possible incivil complaint' and that 'it will go a long way towards clarifying the current situation at Sol'. If the Government Delegate does not act, the mayor confirmed that the City Council will press ahead with the legal actions available to it.

The council maintains that there is a clear danger to public order and safety. It is now up to the **Delegación del Gobierno** (the central government's office in Madrid) to assess that claim, as it holds the powers to clear the protest. The mayor has asked the delegate to speak out after having, in his version of events, proven the presence of cobblestones and large knives at the encampment.

The municipal report also mentions the presence of camping stoves for heating food, an element which, in the mayor's view, adds an additional risk. The **Puerta del Sol** encampment remains in place while the City Council and the Government Delegate exchange requests over who should intervene and on what legal grounds. The final assessment of the facts rests with the courts.