[zozbot234]

> You get actions like putting trees and blocks of concrete on railroads, making it very dangerous for passengers and workers.

There are laws against doing such things on the books, I'd assume - even if the motive were "just" to block railway traffic. The government should focus on investigating those responsible. It's not at all clear that blocking an app that might have countless legitimate, non-violent uses is the right choice.

[iagovar]

If I was from the police I'd probably want to block the chance to coordinate such attacks, not only do an investigation to track certain individuals. What would be the point to spend many resources to put a guy or a few of them in jail when they can be easily replaced.

[acollins1331]

Sure, that's what you'd want. And everyone in the police here wants video and audio recording of every persons movement at all times so they can solve every crime.

Sometimes the police want bad things.

[commandlinefan]

"A police officer's job is only easy in a police state"

[zozbot234]

Of course it depends how many people are involved in such things, and whether the app specifically is allowing them to coordinate these attacks. Most of the commentary so far has been about demonstrations, sometimes turning into violent riots. Purposely sabotaging/obstructing a piece of critical infrastructure is something rather different, although whether it could be defined as "terrorism" is somewhat ambiguous.

[iagovar]

> whether it could be defined as "terrorism" is somewhat ambiguous.

I won't define it as terrorism, but if you are in the Police and you really have no other legal tool, what do you do? If the boundary is fuzzy enough, they're gonna push for it.

In the end they'll probably have a hard time proving that to a judge, but as a temporary measure they probably think it's useful.

[zozbot234]

Actually, my main point was that it could qualify. Attacks on critical infrastructure have been deemed as such, and the implied risk to human life makes this an even stronger possibility. If these things are actually happening, it's quite appropriate to bring them to light.

[AnimalMuppet]

You don't have to call it terrorism. Vandalism, reckless endangerment, malicious mischief... there are a bunch of different laws that apply.

[nl]

It's worth noting that this conflict has previously had groups who were terrorist (the bomb planting kind).

[hootbootscoot]

it's worth noting that spanish over-reactions may be rooted in memories/fears of ETA, which is an entirely different group from an entirely different region also seeking secession.

the concern is the "suppress this at any cost" approach.

the heavy sentences can be seen as provocative (13 years for holding an "illegal" election is indefensible. it's pure authoritarian slapdown, reeks of hubris, and spits in the face of actual violent crime convictions. you can get less for murder in Spain!)

this fuels sympathy for a movement that otherwise smelled a bit like the "Piadina" secessionists: a rich region seeking to "unburden" itself of it's poorer compatriot region

such is the unreformed state of spanish nationalism that Madridenses literally will see nothing wrong with extreme civil rights breaches by G.C. etc.

let's not forget that Spain just sold a large order of bombs to Saudi Arabia, so the epiphet "terrorist" is not to be taken seriously, as in the American Gov't etc.

I'm in no way interested in Catalunyan independence, but this posturing by the Spanish Gov't looks RIDICULOUS and should be ridiculed as such.

[GonzaloQuero]

This is just a nitpick, but ETA was not the only active terrorist group in Spain. Catalonia also had Terra Lliure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_Lliure)

[harperlee]

Please don’t be intellectually dishonest. Murder in Spain is 10 to 15 years but they have been condemned by more than one crime, and that adds up, so you are comparing apples to oranges. One of them is sedition, the other one is akin to embezzlement (they used public funds for pursuing their agenda outside of their public mandate).

Also the sentencing was not the harshest by far: rebellion was dropped, state attorney demanded up to 25 years, and “acusación particular” (VOX) was asking to up to 74 years.

[ohduran]

I've never heard of "Piadina" secessionism, could you please shed any light on that? Can't find anything about it

[w0land]

Probably the op is refering to Padania in Italy, lega nord.

[pas]

Wasn't this app purposefully made and has been branded as such for this group and their cause?