Mounted police to patrol Spain's Camino de Santiago amid security fears

Team of Guardia Civil officers to provide escort for walkers on ancient route to cathedral after reports of harassment and disappearance of American pilgrim

For hundreds of years, pilgrims have trekked along Spain's Camino de Santiago to the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, believed to be the final resting place of St James.

But this year, pilgrims and hikers have a police escort for part of the way, with a team of five Guardia Civil police officers on horseback covering up to 18 miles a day of the ancient Catholic pilgrimage.