Málaga / Story
Málaga deploys 242 local police for Halloween night
The council activated its pre-emergency plan amid concerns about possible disorder linked to Blocus calls, while some central shops changed their arrangements.
Málaga City Council activated its local civil protection plan in the pre-emergency phase for Halloween night, with 242 local police officers assigned to the operation. Authorities cited the possibility of large crowds and concerns about calls for disorder linked to the Blocus movement.
The police deployment began at 7pm on Saturday 31 October and was due to end at 6am on Sunday. A joint coordination centre bringing together local police, the National Police and Civil Protection was to remain active until 7am.
Police and emergency teams on duty
Of the 242 local officers, 131 were on ordinary afternoon and night shifts and 111 were assigned to extraordinary duty. The additional staff were distributed across neighbourhood teams and specialist units. Civil Protection volunteers were also deployed in city districts.
Officers were assigned in uniform and plain clothes, while the emergency centre monitored calls, social media and CCTV for incidents involving traffic, crowds or public safety. The Sala 092 service was responsible for handling calls and coordinating with national police.
The operation followed the Friday arrest in Málaga of a 20-year-old man suspected by investigators of involvement in Blocus and of using messaging channels to call for looting. The allegation has not been tested in court. Police and prosecutors have also made arrests elsewhere in Spain in connection with suspected calls for disorder; minors are not identified.
Shops and waste collection make changes
Some jewellers and other central businesses altered their opening arrangements or secured their premises ahead of the evening. The reports describe this as a response to online calls that had caused concern among shopkeepers; they do not establish that violence would occur.
The municipal cleaning company Limasam planned to remove surface rubbish bins around the historic centre from 6pm because of the expected crowds. Businesses were advised to use underground containers from that time or wait until the following day.
The council urged residents to rely on verified information from public authorities and official accounts, and to call 112 in an emergency. The local emergency plan was activated at operational level 0, a pre-emergency phase prompted by the possibility of crowds.
Sources: Málaga Hoy and Diario Sur.
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