FREE
Your Essential Weekly Read
Tel: 966 701 060 E-mail: office@costablancapeople.com Web: costablancapeople.com
Tues 9th August - Mon 15th August 2016
Costas under terror threat Tourists are being warned of a fresh wave of terror attacks across Spain after an ISIS fanatic called on Muslims to attack busy destinations.
I
n an article published by ISIS-affiliated media company Al-Wafa, Abu Marya AlAseef says fighters should use explosives, machine guns and trucks – similar to the Nice attack – to avenge ‘the crimes committed by Spain against Muslims.’ Resorts, nightclubs, planes, cinemas,
cafes and bars are listed as suggested targets for jihadi militants. Al-Aseef also urges people living in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, and Libya to kidnap Spaniards and either behead them or exchange them for Muslim prisoners. He wrote: “As their governments kill our brothers, so should we [seek] revenge and reprisal.” The article is titled Spain of Fernando, We vow to seek revenge, and says Spaniards must pay the price for the country’s military involvement in the Middle East. Spain has not had a terrorist attack since the Al Qaeda’s Madrid train bombings in 2004, which killed 192. However, the country on a level four terrorism alert in the wake of attacks in France and Germany, Spain is stepping up security throughout its Mediterranean coastline, with armed patrols and drones being rolled out to protect the millions of holidaymakers that will flock to its beaches
over the next month. The attacks in France, as well as the situation in Turkey, along with the attacks last year in Tunisia, have prompted many vacationers to change their summer travel plans in favour of Spain. Benidorm, one of Spain’s most popular resorts, is being patrolled by a drone. We were pioneers, but other towns are now using drones,” says Carlos López of the Benidorm local police, and one of four officers responsible for the surveillance craft. The drones are mostly used for detecting swimmers in trouble, vessels which have gone adrift and smoke that could be a sign of a forest fire, a common occurrence in the summer months. But they are also useful in the detection of many other kinds of risk situations, said the officers. Meanwhile Catalonia’s regional government is aware of the danger and the impact any kind of attack would have on Spain’s tourism industry. In response, they
have assigned large numbers of regional Mossos d’Esquadra police officers armed with submachine guns and assault rifles to resorts such as Roses and Lloret de Mar, where they are patrolling sea fronts and controlling access to beach areas. In June, the US State Department issued a travel alert warning its citizens about “the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation.” “The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events,” said the note. Following the attack in Nice on 14th July, Catalonia’s regional premier, Carles Puigdemont, met with anti-terrorism officers. Jordi Jané, the region’s interior chief, said that his own security services had warned of an attack in France. At that point,
Next week’s Costa Blanca People will be out on Wednesday,17th August
armed units were deployed to resort areas as well as train and bus stations, airports and government buildings. Over 18 million tourists visited Spain in the first four months of 2016 alone, representing a 13 percent rise from the same period last year. The country broke a record for international tourist arrivals last year with over 68 million visitors, of whom 1.5 million came from the United States, according to official figures.
646