Spanish Interior Minister’s Phone Hacked Amid Morocco Tensions, Pegasus Spyware Suspected

Suspicions are increasingly weighing on Morocco regarding the espionage of members of the Spanish government and its leader, Pedro Sanchez. After Pedro Sanchez, Margarita Robles, the Minister of Defense, Arancha Gonzales Laya, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Intelligence Center (CNI) has confirmed that the phone of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, was also hacked twice using Pegasus, on June 7 and 26, in the midst of a crisis with Morocco, reports El Correo.

To read: Spanish PM and Defense Minister’s Phones Hacked with Pegasus Spyware, Morocco Suspected

More than 6 GB of data were extracted from Marlaska’s phone on June 7, a much larger volume than the 2.7 GB of data extracted from President Sanchez’s phone on May 19 and 31. Then, 400 MB of data were extracted from the Interior Minister’s phone on June 26, the same date on which Margarita Robles’ phone was also hacked. In addition, the phone of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, also suffered an "unsuccessful attempt" at espionage with Pegasus during the same period, announced on Tuesday the government spokeswoman, Isabel Rodríguez.

To read: Spain Suspects Morocco in Pegasus Spyware Attack, Remains Silent Amid Diplomatic Concerns

Since the summer of 2021, no more phones of government members have been "hacked with Pegasus," Rodríguez assured, stating that the Executive has filed a complaint against unknown persons before the National Court for the espionage of Marlaska and Planas, as it has done for Sanchez and Robles. The spokeswoman for the Spanish Executive avoided designating Morocco as the perpetrator of these espionage acts, merely stating that justice has already been seized and will shed full light on this case.