By IANS/EFE,
Madrid: 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.