Pompeyo González, a 76-year-old retiree, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison by the National Court. He was found guilty of sending explosive devices, including one to Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and another to Defense Minister Margarita Robles in November 2022.
The court imposed a ten-year sentence for terrorism, along with an additional eight years for manufacturing, possessing, and using explosive materials with terrorist intent. Throughout the proceedings, González denied the charges, but the evidence presented during the trial was overwhelming for the judges.
A total of six explosive letters were sent by González. Besides the ones addressed to the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister, he also mailed one to the directors of the EU Satellite Center in Torrejón de Ardoz and another to the arms manufacturer Instalaza based in Zaragoza. Two additional letters were sent to the ambassadors of the United States and Ukraine in Spain, with the last one resulting in an explosion that injured a security staff member.
Investigations into González revealed a disturbing affinity for Russia and a strong opposition to aiding Ukraine amid the ongoing war following the Russian invasion. Authorities found evidence of his engagement with various Russian news channels, governmental applications, and even a VPN service to cloak his internet activity.
The judges concluded that his opposition to Spain’s support for Ukraine motivated his actions. They noted that his intent was to create panic within Spanish society to pressure both the Spanish and U.S. governments to cease their support for Ukraine.
During the trial, González claimed that his sole aim was to satisfy his curiosity and improve his manual skills, an explanation that the court found unconvincing given the circumstances.
The evidence indicated that he had accessed several online platforms to purchase identical envelopes and labels, as well as tools and components suitable for making explosive devices. Some of these materials were recovered from his home, where traces of substances matching those found in the explosive devices were identified.
Surveillance operations carried out before his arrest showed that González disposed of various materials, including screws, metallic tubes, and safety matches. His letters were designed to explode upon opening, posing a serious threat of severe injury to the recipients.
The court concluded that González intended his explosive devices to cause serious harm and disruption. The planned reactions to such packages would have included evacuation and heightened security measures, creating widespread alarm among the public. His actions were ultimately aimed at undermining support for Ukraine, which he sought to achieve through these violent means.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/2024/07/23/condenan-a-18-anos-de-carcel-al-jubilado-que-envio-las-cartas-con-explosivos-a-pedro-sanchez-y-a-la-ministra-de-defensa/
