Did Catalan police freeze out Spanish national officers from terror investigation, to bolster impression of independence?

Catalan officials have denied accusations that the police there ignored warnings about members of the terror cell behind last week’s deadly attacks and refused to cooperate with the national force.

Politicians and the police force in the Catalonia region have had to answer accusations that they froze out the national force for political reasons.

The vehicle rampages in Barcelona’s busy Las Ramblas boulevard last Thursday and in the seaside resort of Cambrils several hours later left 15 people dead and more than 120 injured.

Both took place in the northeastern region of Catalonia, whose separatist government is deeply at odds with Madrid over its independence drive – in particular the plan to hold an October 1 referendum on the issue despite a ban issued by the government in Madrid.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appeared side by side. A week on however, the cracks are starting to show.

Spanish media reported that Catalonia’s police force, which enjoys a high level of autonomy, did not consult Madrid over the history of Abdelbaki Es Satty, the imam thought to be the mastermind of the attacks.