Madrid strike: tear-gas spray out, smoke stays
After a general strike in Madrid, Spain, National Police officers can no longer use their personal tear-gas spray at demonstrations. They can still use tear-gas smoke canisters. Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed the change on Friday, 13 November 2026, after police charges during the strike two days earlier drew criticism.
The restriction does not apply to ordinary patrols. Officers can still carry the spray and use it if needed to restrain someone for arrest. At protests, they can instead use tear-gas smoke canisters known as ATL devices, fired from attachments on police shotguns. The ministry describes the smoke as harmless and non-injurious.
Police officers familiar with riot-control operations dispute whether the change will help. They say a cloud of smoke can affect more people than spray aimed at one person, and fear the restriction could lead to more close confrontations and injuries.
Madrid’s police command opened an internal inquiry on Thursday into officers’ actions during the strike. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska questioned whether some police charges were proportionate but ruled out resigning. Police unions say the spray restriction casts officers under suspicion. The ministry has instructed the National Police to change its rules on personal spray.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com