The Spanish National Court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 18 years in prison for sending six letter bombs to prominent personalities, including the Spanish Prime Minister, in November 2022.
The Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s apex criminal court, sentenced Pompeyo González Pascual, a 76-year-old Spanish man, to a 10-year prison sentence for terrorism and an additional eight years for preparing and placing explosives for terrorist purposes, stating further that Gonzalez’s actions were intended to create complications in Spanish society and provoked pressure on the governments of Spain, the United States, and other entities to stop supporting Ukraine.
The court held that the evidence indicated that the envelopes containing explosive devices were delivered to the US and Ukrainian embassies, Defence Minister of Spain Margarita Robles, a Spanish weapons firm, and a Spanish military station. A staff member of the Ukrainian embassy endured minor injuries while unpacking a package, with the security personnel having intercepted the other packaging.
It additionally stated that he gathered a wealth of material from the internet on explosives, explosive device components, and postal rates and that after their shipment, he was notified through the same method of the outcomes obtained at the different locations. González refuted the accusations made against him, but the judges declared that there was sufficient evidence presented to prove his guilt.
After being detained in pre-trial custody in January 2023, González was granted conditional release by a court in April as he was not in a position to destroy evidence and had no prior convictions. The court determined further that González acted independently but had an “affinity” with “Russian positions” and opposed Spain’s assistance to the Ukrainian military.
The National High Court of Spain, or Audiencia Nacional, is a specialised court having jurisdiction over criminal offences committed across the nation, with its headquarters in Madrid, the capital of Spain. The court plays a crucial role in Spanish law enforcement, ensuring consistent and impartial application of justice.
