Barcelona
More than 9,000 law enforcement officers will be on duty in Catalonia next Friday, when the Spanish Cabinet is scheduled to meet in Barcelona rather than at its usual location in Madrid.
the Barcelona municipal police, the Mossos the National Police and the Guardia Civil – will be tasked with keeping the peace on a day when separatist groups are expected to stage public protests against the meeting and in favor of Catalan independence.
The self-styled “Committees for the Defense of the Republic” or CDR is calling for a street “battle” on December 21. Via social networks they are calling on sympathizers to be outside the meeting venue, “first thing in the morning.” One CDR poster reads: “On 21D we will be… ungovernable.”
Drug Gang Arrests
Four suspects have been arrested, one each in Malaga and Marbella and 2 in Malmö in Sweden are allegedly responsible for attempting to blow up a Costa del Sol villa and industrial warehouse in a drug trafficking related ‘settling of scores.
The men have been charged with illicit possession of explosives, homicide, belonging to a criminal organization, damages and forgery of a public document.
The Operation was a Guardia Civil and National Police, joint run project to capture those responsible for gang related violence on October 10.
The Swedish Police were also instrumental in capturing two of the alleged assailants.
On October 10, two bombs were detonated in a house in a residential area in Benahavís and in an industrial estate in San Pedro de Alcántara.
Police in Spain allege the detainees are members of a top criminal organisation with an operation stretching over several European countries.
Security
France and Spain are beefing up security in the aftermath of a shooting at a Christmas market in Strasbourg.
Following a crisis meeting, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that the country will deploy more security personnel during the Christmas season.
On Tuesday night, a gunman opened fire at a Christmas market before fleeing the scene. He has since been shot by Police.
In Spain, the Interior Ministry decided to further strengthen security measures across the country ahead of Christmas. The ministry will deploy more police and security forces in crowded areas where Christmas celebrations take place.
Traffic Restrictions
MADRID on Wednesday temporarily banned the oldest, most polluting vehicles from its streets, two weeks after new driving restrictions were introduced to fight air pollution in the center of the capital.
The latest bid to reduce emissions comes as the city battles acutely high pollution levels, partly due to recent weather conditions.
It is the first time the city’s authorities have activated stage two of its new anti-pollution protocol which came into effect in October.
With 3.2 million residents and some 1.8 million cars, Madrid often suffers from high pollution levels.
Contraband.
The Guardia Civil netted nearly 3,000 cartons of illegal cigarettes with a market value of some €14,000 at Almeria port last month.
The seizures of contraband tobacco came during routine checks of passengers and vehicles arriving on ferries from North Africa. Officers found cigarette cartons hidden inside cars and suitcases.