Spain Raises Terror-Alert Level After Attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait

By Richard Boudreaux
        MADRID--Spain raised its terror-alert level from medium to high after deadly attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait.

        Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz announced the decision on Friday after an emergency meeting of the country's terrorism-monitoring commission. The commission is made up of the government's top counterterrorism and intelligence officials and select members of parliament from the country's two main political parties.

        "Considering the proximity of our country to the places where some of these attacks took place, it has been proposed to raise the antiterrorist alert" to four on a scale of five, from three, Mr. Fernandez Diaz told a news conference.

        He said the decision was also prompted by the approach of the anniversary, on Monday, of Islamic State's declaration of a caliphate in territories under its control in Iraq and Syria.

        Spanish officials have no information suggesting that Spain faces an imminent attack, Mr. Fernandez Diaz said.

        The heightened alert calls for an expanded police presence in the streets of Spanish cities as well as at airports, railway and bus terminals, nuclear power plants and electrical installations.

        The terrorism-monitoring group met after suspected terrorists killed at least 37 people at a beach resort in Tunisia and 25 people in a suicide bomb blast in Kuwait. A man was also found beheaded at a gas factory in southeastern France.

        Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Spanish opposition leaders condemned the attacks. "Barbarism will always be confronted by unity among democrats," Mr. Rajoy wrote in a message on Twitter.

        Spain is among countries in Europe that stepped up vigilance in the wake deadly attacks by Islamic militants in Paris in January. The following month the Spanish parliament passed a law toughening penalties for terrorism, including life imprisonment for anyone carrying out an attack.

        Spain has detained 45 people in Islamic terrorism-related investigations this year, one fewer than it detained in all of 2014, according to the Interior Ministry.

        Write to Richard Boudreaux at richard.boudreaux@wsj.com

        (END) Dow Jones Newswires

        June 26, 2015 14:26 ET (18:26 GMT)

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