The Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez, has addressed the top officials of all police forces to inform them that all agents must take extreme self-protection measures against possible terrorist attacks. In the document, to which La Vanguardia has had access, the number two of the Ministry of the Interior orders to reinforce security in the embassies in Spain of more than thirty countries, due to the terrorist threat derived from the Hamas attack against Israel and the response from the latter in Gaza.
The document was prepared after the Terrorist Threat Assessment Table met yesterday, in which it was agreed to reinforce the anti-terrorist measures of alert level 4. Based on intelligence information, it was first agreed to reinforce static surveillance at the Israeli embassy, as well as other interests and places of worship, educational and economic of that community.
Likewise, the Secretary of State orders to reinforce anti-terrorist measures in the embassies and diplomatic legations of Turkey, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. Also those of all the countries of the European Union, but especially those of France, Sweden and Denmark. Finally, the embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom are added to the list.
The document highlights that the reinforcement of police measures for prevention, protection and anti-terrorist response must have a special impact on events and festivities relevant to religious communities, as well as on days or times designated by terrorist organizations to carry out any type of violent action.
After this document has reached those responsible for the National Police, the Civil Guard and the other autonomous bodies, the Jupol union has described the Interior document as “incongruent and cynical”, since, according to their complaint, “thousands of “Agents still do not have a bulletproof vest.” In addition, they warn that the number of shields and ballistic helmets available to the agents is “clearly insufficient,” as well as the number of submachine guns that the police have.
