Catalan public prosecutors have started an investigation into the identification by the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan police, of various individuals, including a civil guard officer, who were removing yellow loops in Vandellòs, Tivissa and Móra la Nova, all villages in the south of Catalonia. Yellow loops are a common symbol of support for the release of the Catalan political prisoners.
Prosecutors are also looking into similar action taken by local police in Ametlla de Mar, also in southern Catalonia. They want to find out the "specific motives" for identifying those involved and the criteria for action to be taken in similar cases.
In a three-page order signed by the acting senior prosecutor, Pedro Ariche, the head of the Mossos, Miquel Esquius, is instructed to submit a report within two weeks on any and all proceedings relating to the police actions on 17th August in Vandellòs and Ribera d'Ebre. They also want the agents involved to be identified by their badge numbers and confirmation whether the incident led to filing a report with a court or opening an administrative report into a violation of the law of public safety. It requires the same of the mayor of Ametlla de Mar for the events of 24th August in that town involving the local police.
Esquius is also required to inform prosecutors over the "guidelines or criteria for action" followed by the force's agents "relating to potential actions of removals of partisan or activist symbology from public spaces by individuals". Moreover, they're asked to periodically inform prosecutors of all similar actions they carry out, or those by local police they become aware of.