News imageWitness History, Witness History, The storming of Spain's parliament

Witness History

Witness History

The storming of Spain's parliament

23 February 2026

11 minutes

Available for over a year

In February 1981, armed Civil Guards tried to take control of the Spanish parliament.

A total of 350 politicians were held hostage for 18 hours in the debating chamber including Joaquin Almunia, a young Socialist MP.

In 2021, he spoke to Claire Bowes.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

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(Picture: Colonel Antonio Tejero attempts to take over the Spanish parliament with the Guardia Civil. Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)