Holidaying in Spain - terror threat raised

[CinammonTree]

We are off to Spain in 3 weeks for our summer holiday - me, DH and our 2 children who are 3 and 6. Have just read online that the terror threat has been raised to level 4 (severe).

I suffer from anxiety as it is. Already worrying as it's the kids first trip abroad.

AIBU to be concerned about this? I feel like I'm going to be a paranoid, hyper alert wreck when we're away now.

That's the same level as the UK.

You'll be fine, honestly I'd just try not to think about it. It's very very unlikely that you will be involved in anything terror related. Spain is a very big country with lots of people in it. The terror alert doesn't mean for one minute that there are extremists around every corner.

Enjoy your holiday

And yes, as nobaggypants points out, it's the same as at home!

I know it’s easier said than done - but try not to think about it, terrorists attacks are very rare - yes there has been a rise lately, but remember that’s only because we hear about them in the news so it seems heightened. The vast majority of people live their lives normally and don’t come anywhere near anything resembling an attack.

The fact that it's the same as the UK does make me feel better! It is something I think about when commuting to work mind you.

Whereabouts in Spain are you going, @CinammonTree ? It is the same level as the UK, and lots of other countries. The chances of anything actually are really really small.

Not unreasonable to be concerned ..... but concerned about what?

As others state, it's the same as UK threat level. So, assuming you live in the UK, what's worrying you about Spain? What's worrying you about Spain that didn't worry you about going to work or school this morning?

I'm not going to make any assumptions about anxiety here. But there's no point reading a headline and worrying about it, if you're not going to independently research what the headline actually means.

The threat levels aren't made up for fun, so there is some science behind them meaning there are some genuine security concerns, no doubt about that. I'm not suggesting you ignore it. But put it in to context of your life. Clearly no point suggesting there would never be a terrorist attack in a tourist resort, as there has been in the past.

You can't control whether there are any terror attacks etc, you've got to trust the authorities do their bit to prevent them. And despite there being a few, I suspect there's dozens more don't happen because of that work.

You can only control how you react & what you can do in the event of something happening. But you should be thinking of that in general, for everyday life. Perhaps just make sure you've got travel insurance & that someone knows where you are when not at home.

If it helps you feel better, theres still another level above severe, and severe doesn't mean an attack is going to happen. Security levels aren't really for the benefit of the public anyway, they're more to do with how the countrys emergency personnel should respond; if anything a higher security level is better because it means that police/army etc are prepared and freshly trained for an incident.

You sound like me. I have severe anxiety about terrorism to the point where I won't even go to big cities/big malls anymore. I have a list of places that I've deemed "too risky" in my head - big hotels. Big/ very popular restaurants. Music festivals. Tourist resorts. The list goes on!

When we returned to UK for a visit I refused to visit London (DH foreign and never been as we live abroad). He thinks this is ridiculous.

People always say that by behaving like this I've let the terrorists win but I honestly don't care if they win as long as my family is safe!

I do suffer from anxiety in general and this seems to be the main way it is currently manifesting.

No advice except maybe avoid the busier more touristy places just to put your mind at ease.

Spain is a huge country I would not be overly concerned and the threat may only been raised as they have an increase of tourism in the summer so naturally seen as a bit of a target? You also have to remember that Spain has always been subject to threats from their homegrown fraction groups ,ETA etc. I can remember them as a kid in the 80s on Spanish news while we were on holiday. I have lived in Belfast for many years during the troubles so it would be somewhat Hypocritical of me to not travel because of a threat I understand you anxiety but please try not to worry and have a fabulous and safe holiday with your family x

Hi. My family are from Spain so I spend a lot of time there and it's very much like the UK when it comes to "terror threats" (with a bit more history to hang the demented ideology on). Basically they know there are people about who talk about doing harm but they also know who a lot of them are. Obviously (as in the UK) they can't be certain they're watching them all but they've been dealing with this stuff for years now and it's still a vanishingly small possibility of any one person getting caught up in something.
As other's have pointed out it's a huge country so even with a heightened threat level the chances of anything at all happening are tiny and the chances of it being in the bit of Spain you are visiting are miniscule.
Enjoy your holiday, Spain is a lovely country

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain

Looks like it's OK as per the FCO advice.

Thanks all. Anxiety is a bitch. Worst case scenario is always the first conclusion I jump to and then I have to work my way back from there.

If my husband is a tiny bit later home than expected he's been in a car crash and I'm waiting for a knock at the door from the police. It's draining although I am getting better. Especially as I now know it's anxiety which is only a relatively recently realisation.

I think they’ve had these threats in tourist destinations for a couple of years now. To be honest, a lot of it is based on propaganda. While certain organisations may threaten attacks, it doesn’t mean they have the means to carry them out. It sounds like Spain is sending extra police to many resorts etc, so security will be tighter.

Spain has had quite a bit of domestic terrorism, but while I’m someone who is still nervous on the tube or shopping on Oxford St etc on busy days, I can’t say I’ve ever felt worried while in Spain or any of its islands. In the cities, I was more worried about pickpockets!

Unfortunately, recent events have shown that terrorist can target anywhere - which kind of make sense when their whole point is to bring random chaos and insecurity.

The chances of something happening, somewhere, are high - and the work of the anti-terrorist units is outstanding. You are not more at risk in a holiday resort than your local supermarket.

"They" are cowards, they will go for easy non protected targets, a holiday resort is not the most dangerous place to be.

I have bad anxiety but plucked up the courage to still go to France a few years back after terror attack a few days before in the area we were going. I also found the courage to go to Paris for my birthday and i had been a complete wreck on the run upto it but surprisingly i didn't think about terrorism once whilst i was there i was to busy enjoying myself.

Go and have a lovely time with your family