A high-ranking police official in Catalonia’s anti-terrorism unit said: “The Muslim community (in Cata­lonia was) long under the influence of Salafists but lately the Muslim Brothers have started getting the up­per hand.”The official, who insisted on ano­nymity, said: “We have noted that many international associations and organisations were sending funds to entities belonging to the Brother­hood network. One of these is the Is­lamic Relief Organisation, which has recently increased its fund-raising activities.”

He also said other parties were providing financial support to the Muslim Brothers in Barcelona but refused to name the parties. The heightened concern about Muslim Brotherhood came as resi­dents of Catalonia on October 1 overwhelmingly voted “yes” on the question of independence from Spain. Spanish National Police, in support of federal government claims the referendum violated the constitution, tried to stop the vote but 2.2 million people — 42% of those eligible — turned out.

A diplomatic source in Madrid said: “The International Muslim Brotherhood is quietly transferring many of its assets, especially those in France, to Catalonia following the enormous pressure placed by the French government on the Broth­erhood leadership and the Qatari government to reduce its financial support of the Brotherhood’s activi­ties in the marginalised quarters of Paris.”