May 1, 2001. Madrid
An off-duty policeman, two women and a friend came to “Gran Via” (Madrid) in a Renault van. The friend of the policeman got out of the car and armed with a black bar, hit Fathey MM, 46; Abdul MS, 42, and Francisco Javier, 34, according to the testimony of José Luis GS. The three men were sitting in the street and were attacked unprovoked, according to the Police Headquarters, who did not specified the motive of the aggression. The family of the deceased maintains, citing police sources, that the agent and his friend went to the area to steal cocaine. An hour after the incident the alleged perpetrators went to the police station and offered an opposite version of what happened, according to the researchers.
The researchers concluded that the policeman and his friend clearly lied. Both men were arrested for the crime of injuries and also for a false report. The deceased’s family said that he was in “Montera” Street accompanied by the other two attacked men. According to the family, these two other men were engaged in cocaine stuff. “The assailants went there to steal cocaine and also beat my brother, who has tan skin, when they confuse him with one of them” said his sister. He lived with his parents in Carabanchel (Madrid). The policeman accused already had an open file of alleged mistreatment of a detainee.
The Ombudsman asked to investigate the crime committed by the agent, regardless of the legal proceedings. Moreover, this Commission opened an ex officio complaint because the attack could have been originated as “racist motivations.”An off-duty policeman, two women and a friend came to “Gran Via” (Madrid) in a Renault van. The friend of the policeman got out of the car and armed with a black bar, hit Fathey MM, 46; Abdul MS, 42, and Francisco Javier, 34, according to the testimony of José Luis GS. The three men were sitting in the street and were attacked unprovoked, according to the Police Headquarters, who did not specified the motive of the aggression. The family of the deceased maintains, citing police sources, that the agent and his friend went to the area to steal cocaine. An hour after the incident the alleged perpetrators went to the police station and offered an opposite version of what happened, according to the researchers.
The researchers concluded that the policeman and his friend clearly lied. Both men were arrested for the crime of injuries and also for a false report. The deceased’s family said that he was in “Montera” Street accompanied by the other two attacked men. According to the family, these two other men were engaged in cocaine stuff. “The assailants went there to steal cocaine and also beat my brother, who has tan skin, when they confuse him with one of them” said his sister. He lived with his parents in Carabanchel (Madrid). The policeman accused already had an open file of alleged mistreatment of a detainee.
The Ombudsman asked to investigate the crime committed by the agent, regardless of the legal proceedings. Moreover, this Commission opened an ex officio complaint because the attack could have been originated as “racist motivations.”