Madrid, Spain, Aug 17, 2011 / 11:47 am
The organizers of World Youth Day are praising the Spanish police after they arrested a Mexican chemistry student for allegedly plotting to gas anti-Pope protesters at this week’s Catholic youth festival in Madrid.
“We condemn any type of violence. This man was a volunteer for World Youth Day, but is no longer such,” said spokesman Rafa Rubio to CNA on August 17.
“The police have acted appropriately and in line with what they had to do. This man no longer works as part of World Youth Day.”
A police spokesman confirmed that they had indeed arrested an unnamed suspect yesterday and that he is a student specializing in organic chemistry. However, they stressed that no actual chemicals had been found during raids on his apartment.
The traditionally anti-Catholic Spanish newspaper El Pais claims that the arrest was to avoid the chance that any failed attack would panic people.