Spanish embassies tighten security after Osama’s death
May 4th, 2011 - 11:40 am ICT by IANSMadrid, May 4 (IANS/EFE) Spain will step up security at its embassies in Africa, Afganistan and Pakistan following the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Tuesday.
Osama bin Laden was killed Monday by US forces in Pakistan’s Abbottabad city.
The government will also contact Spanish firms and aid organisations working in those regions, warning them to strengthen their security measures.
“I don’t believe that bin Laden’s death means any additional risk for Spain,” Rubalcaba said while commenting on a possible replacement in the Al Qaeda leadership.
Nonetheless, the deputy premier said there might be reprisals and that, for Spanish interests abroad, “the coming weeks and months could be critical”.
The new security regime will apply to Spain’s diplomatic missions in Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Algeria, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The defense ministry said it is maintaining a high alert level, particularly in Lebanon and Afghanistan, nations where Spain has troops stationed as part of international missions.
Spain suffered Europe’s worst terrorist attack March 11, 2004, launched by militants who killed 191 people and wounded almost 2,000.
–IANS/EFE
rd
- Al Qaeda planning to kidnap more Westerners - Nov 29, 2011
- Osama sought to kill Obama: Report (Lead) - Mar 17, 2012
- Al Qaeda releases two hostages after three months - Mar 10, 2010
- Obama congratulates team that killed Osama - May 07, 2011
- Al- Qaeda acquiring weapons in Libya, may target passenger plane - Apr 05, 2011
- US attempt to 'assassinate' Osama bin Laden thwarted: Al-Qaeda - Feb 10, 2011
- Spain helping 40 percent of Haitians suffering from cholera - Jan 16, 2011
- Food crisis looms in Africa's Sahel region - Jan 31, 2012
- Spaniard to sue FBI for using his image in Osama poster - Oct 12, 2011
- Al-Qaeda holding US aid worker hostage in Pakistan - Dec 02, 2011
- Al-Qaeda says it is holding US hostage (Second Lead, Changing dateline) - Dec 02, 2011
- Al-Qaeda says it is holding US hostage (Lead) - Dec 02, 2011
- Osama tape threatens to kill French hostages - Jan 21, 2011
- Bin Laden says America 'will not dream of security' until Palestine has security - May 09, 2011
- Year after Osama, world still unsafe - May 01, 2012
Tags: abbottabad, afganistan, aid organisations, alfredo perez rubalcaba, burkina faso, defense ministry, deputy prime minister, diplomatic missions, efe, international missions, militants, new security, niger nigeria, osama bin laden, qaeda leader, reprisals, security regime, spanish embassies, spanish firms, worst terrorist attack