Main content
When Spain's parliament was stormed
Armed Civil Guards took MPs hostage in Spain's parliamentary chamber in Madrid, in February 1981.
In February 1981 armed Civil Guards tried to take control of the Spanish parliament. For 18 hours they held 350 politicians hostage in the debating chamber. One of those politicians was a young Socialist MP called Joaquin Almunia.
Photo: The leader of the coup attempt, Lt Col Antonio Tejero, on the speaker's platform (AFP/Getty Images)
Last on
Tue 12 Jan 202103:50GMT
BBC World Service
Broadcasts
- Mon 11 Jan 202108:50GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 11 Jan 202112:50GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 11 Jan 202118:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Mon 11 Jan 202123:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 12 Jan 202103:50GMTBBC World Service
Podcast
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
