Spanish Officials Criticize Morocco for Delays in Airport Escape Investigation

"The delays recorded on the Moroccan side to provide key data on the fugitives from the patera plane have complicated the investigations," indicate sources close to the case to ABC. "The effectiveness of the investigations has suffered from the delay taken by Morocco," they specify, however noting that the personal information of the fugitives such as their first and last names "was made available to them very quickly". But they believe that this data "does not really help, if in addition they do not include the photos of the individuals".

"A first and last name is not enough to be able to carry out an effective search, especially if as suspected, several of the fugitives may have documents bearing different names," they indicate. The police were able to apprehend 12 of these Moroccan migrants, including the one who caused the emergency landing by simulating a diabetic coma, as well as his accomplice. They were placed in pre-trial detention. They are accused of disturbing public order and attempted illegal immigration and face a sentence of 10 years in prison.

The investigation continues to find the twelve others who managed to escape. "They are probably afraid, after hearing that their companions have gone to prison and are accused of very serious crimes [...] So they are moving with the utmost caution," explain the same sources. According to the first elements of the investigation, the accused would have prepared their coup since last July by posting on the page of a Moroccan Facebook group called "Brooklyn" a post detailing the different stages of their plan. Some of the fugitives even commented on this page, "boasting of having achieved their goal". The Spanish authorities wish that Morocco confirm to them that the latter are indeed members of this group.