The Spanish National Police, officially the Cuerpo Superior de Policía, had a detailed operational plan to storm the Congress of Deputies while it was under siege by the Civil Guard on February 23, 1981. This revelation comes from recently declassified documents by the Spanish government, sourced from the archives of the Directorate General of Police. The documents imply a dire strategy, contemplating significant casualties, with estimates that between 80 and 100 people could lose their lives in the operation. This operation was designed to counter the coup attempt led by Antonio Tejero and is a vital piece of history regarding Spain's transition to democracy.

The announcement of these declassified documents and the existence of such a plan sheds light on the tense political climate in Spain at the time of the coup attempt. The internal documents suggest that even within the police forces, there were drastic considerations regarding how to handle the coup, revealing the fear and uncertainty that permeated the country. It emphasizes a moment where national stability was fragile and the actions of law enforcement played a crucial role in the response to coup developments.

One notable detail from the documents is the intention to inform the public through the media about the planned assault, as indicated by communications surrounding a book idea by José Oneto, then-director of the magazine Cambio 16. The book was meant to detail the events of the coup, but it raises questions about whether this would have further escalated tensions during an already volatile period. The surfacing of such plans deepens the discourse on governmental force and democratic practices in Spain's history, illustrating the struggles encountered in establishing modern governance and civil rights in the years post-Franco.