– Protests banned as 120 snipers line up to protect Spanish crown (Digital Journal, June 19, 2014):
Madrid – As Prince Felipe gets ready to be crowned the new King of Spain, two demonstrations and two concentrations planned for Thursday have been banned, thousands of extra police officers brought in and 120 snipers prepped to protect the ceremonial event.It seems Spanish authorities are a tad nervous of demonstrations against the monarchy Thursday, when the new King Felipe VI is set to be crowned.Having declared it illegal to hold any form of anti-monarchy protest or demonstration, the government will be deploying more than 6,700 police and civil guard officers in and around the area during the proceedings.They even had to import around 4,000 officers from around Spain to swell the ranks including the said 120 snipers.A Republican protest, in particular, that was planned to coincide with the royal parade in Madrid Thursday just cannot go ahead, with Madrid citing the recent arrest of eight jihadist terrorists.