Security increased ahead of Spain’s legendary La Tomatina tomato fight festival in wake of Barcelona terror attack
The massive event is going ahead as planned despite the massacre in Catalan
SECURITY is being stepped up as thousands of people prepare to take to the streets of a Spanish town for one of the world's largest and most famous tomato fights.
La Tomatina is traditionally celebrated in the Valencian town of Bunol on the last Wednesday of August which this year falls on August 30th.
The massive event is going ahead as planned despite the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cabrils and Spain's Level 4 terrorist alert which involves close scrutiny of all public events which attract huge crowds.
However, stringent security measures will be in force before, during and after the hour-long battle which sees Bunol's streets packed to the brim with revellers who pelt each other with the squashy fruit.
More than 22,000 paying competitors are officially expected for La Tomatina though that number is likely to multiply with the number of onlookers attracted to the spectacle.
The festival is classified in Spain as being of International Tourist Interest.
There will be about 740 security officers on duty, up by six per cent on last year from the state security forces, firefighters, health personnel, members of Civil Protection and volunteers.
In addition, the Bunyol Local Security Board approved a five per cent increase in the number of agents of the Civil Guard for this edition of theTomatina.
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Bunol council said it had decided even before the Barcelona attacks to make sure its security was as watertight as possible.
Following the Barcelona atrocity, the Spanish Government decided to tighten up security at all major public events, including La Tomatina.Around 160,000 kilos of tomatoes will be thrown during the fiesta, distributed from six trucks.
For the second year running, the local council has also mounted a zero tolerance campaign against sexist violence, warning there is "a very thin line between what is harassment and what is not."
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