Barcelona authorities admit city is suffering from ¡°security crisis¡±

A top Barcelona official has admitted that the city is experiencing ¡°a security crisis¡± after seven violent deaths and three near-fatal stabbings were reported in a short space of time.

Albert Batlle, the deputy mayor in charge of security affairs, said in a news conference that the government of the leftist Ada Colau will roll out more regional and local police officers to fight crime more effectively.

Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle recommends ¡°intensifying security policies¡± but also working on ¡°social policies¡±

Batlle, a former director general of the Catalan police force, the Mossos d¡¯Esquadra, said that the rising crime rate in Barcelona should be addressed in a ¡°serene and responsible¡± manner. He recommended ¡°intensifying security policies¡± but also working on ¡°social policies.¡±

There have been seven violent deaths in the space of 40 days, caused by fights and shootouts. There were also three stabbings in a little over 24 hours. So far this year, 11 people have been violently killed in the Catalan capital, a figure that already surpasses the mark for all of last year (10), according to this newspaper¡¯s calculations.

Statistics show a nine percent global rise in crime in Barcelona so far this year. Violent robberies have experienced a 30% increase, although Batlle noted that ¡°Barcelona continues to be a safe city compared with Paris, London or Rome.¡±

The official added that ¡°measures are being taken to revert the situation¡± in Barcelona and fight the rise in crime.

English version by Susana Urra.