Vuelta a Espana: Police thwart oil attack

Possible attack on Vuelta 2023 with oil-like substance

Officers arrested four people when they placed two large barrels containing a total of around 400 litres of an oil-like substance above a section of road on Saturday, according to a statement on Tuesday. It was not ruled out that they could be supporters of the Catalan separatist movement. The possible motive of those arrested was not initially disclosed.

The barrels camouflaged with vegetation were connected to a hose in the Solsonès region, halfway between Barcelona and Andorra, through which the oil was to be released onto the carriageway. The release was supposed to be carried out with the help of an electrically controlled valve that was connected to a timer. The third-largest stage race in the world after the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia passed the leak on the third stage on Monday.

>> All stages of the Vuelta 2023 at a glance

Persons released again

The four suspects, who have no previous convictions and are all over 50 years old, were released on Monday subject to conditions, as the newspaper "Segre" reported. They are accused of membership of a criminal organisation, endangering public order, road safety and the environment.

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