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Spain's Barcelona embraces Christmas season amid tightened security

Xinhua, December 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Citizens of the northeastern Spanish city of Barcelona are embracing the Christmas season amid increased police patrols on the streets.

The central streets of Barcelona, already busy at any time of year, will be busier due to Christmas shopping, visits to the famous Christmas markets and the increased number of tourists who make good use of the holidays to visit the city.

In Spain, the end of the Christmas season also coincides with the winter sales, so the city council will intensify police services, carried out by the Guardia Urbana and the Mossos d'Esquadra, within the shopping areas during this period that will begin on Jan. 7.

An increase in sales compared with the previous year is also expected for this Christmas. According to the Confederation of Commerce of Catalonia (CCC), traders expect sale increases of between 4 and 6 percent.

Therefore, although the police presence will cover all districts of Barcelona, it will focus mainly on the central and commercial areas to improve road and public security and control noise pollution.

There will also be a specific police presence for key dates such as New Year Eve or the Three Kings Parade, and for specific places like the Kings Fair in the central street of Gran Via.

Barcelona Christmas fairs are the main attractions of the holidays, especially those of Santa Llucia, the Sagrada Familia and the Kings. Endit