Spain’s weather service, AEMET, has found itself under attack by climate conspiracy theorists, who blame the agency for its forecasts during a record drought and heat wave that has seen temperatures of nearly 39C (102F) in southern cities.
Social media messages, phone calls and emails have assailed the forecasters with such messages as “Murderers”, “Criminals”, “You’ll pay for this” and “We’re watching you.”
The abuse has led the agency to post a Twitter video showing some of the abuse and calling for “respect” for its staff. Ecology Minister Teresa Ribera posted on social media that “Enough is enough. Lying fueling conspiracies and fear, being insulting…impoverishes us as a society.”
