The exercise simulated the placement of a suspicious backpack at one of the cruise terminal entrances, immediately activating the port security protocols. The test served to evaluate operational procedures and coordination in the face of a risk situation in a strategic infrastructure like the Port of Tarragona.
Following an anonymous call alerting to the presence of a potentially dangerous package, the Guardia Civil deployed its canine unit to locate the supposed device. The corps' TEDAX specialists were then responsible for its deactivation and removal from the cordoned area.
Concurrently, the Mossos d’Esquadra inspected the suspect's vehicle, parked in an urban area near the port, and proceeded with his simulated arrest near the premises. The Policía Nacional participated in the identification tasks of the individual involved in the scenario.
The exercise is part of the dozen annual drills organized by the Port Authority to test the response to different types of emergencies and threats.
The drill, which began at 10:15 AM on Thursday 22 and lasted about two hours, involved the Port Police, Mossos d’Esquadra, Guardia Urbana de Tarragona, Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil, Capitanía Marítima, and Salvamento Marítimo. The Port Police and Guardia Urbana also utilized drones for area control.
