Spanish court imposes 18-year sentence on pensioner for letter bombs

• The court found Gonzalez guilty of terrorism and manufacturing explosives.
• Gonzalez had opposed Western support for Ukraine following Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
• After the attack, Ukraine’s ambassador to Spain blamed Russia, leading to increased security at its embassies worldwide.

On Tuesday, a Spanish court sentenced pensioner Pompeyo Gonzalez Pascual to 18 years in prison for sending letter bombs to Spain’s prime minister and the US and Ukrainian embassies in 2022. The Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s top criminal court, found Gonzalez Pascual guilty of terrorism and manufacturing explosives. He had opposed Western support for Ukraine following Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

The homemade devices targeted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Defense Minister Margarita Robles, the US and Ukrainian embassies, a Spanish arms firm that produces grenades donated to Ukraine, and a major Spanish military base.

A Ukrainian embassy staffer sustained light injuries while opening one of the packages. Security staff intercepted the other packages.

The court said a 76-year-old Gonzalez Pascual had aimed to “cause a profound upheaval in Spanish society that would exert pressure so the governments of Spain and the United States and other entities based in Spanish territory would stop supporting Ukraine.”

An expert who examined Gonzalez Pascual’s computer testified in court that they found evidence of “searches for how to prepare explosive devices” and visits to “media propaganda channels related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”

Investigators found a workshop at his home containing soldering equipment, tools, metal parts, and screws compatible with the letter bombs he sent. They also discovered signs of preparatory work for constructing additional devices.

Authorities arrested Gonzalez Pascual in January 2023 and placed him in pre-trial detention. However, a judge granted him conditional release earlier this year, citing that he was not in a position to destroy evidence, was unlikely to re-offend, and had no previous convictions. At that time, the judge noted that there were “no indications” he had acted in conjunction with “any organized terror group.”

After the embassy attack, Ukraine’s ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, blamed Russia, and Kyiv increased security at its embassies worldwide.

Also Read

Spain’s highest court declares deportation of child migrants illegal

The incident occurred amid a dispute over Madrid's decision to provide medical...