A National Police officer died and another was severely injured following a shooting and the subsequent detonation of an explosive device hidden inside a backpack in the Villafría neighborhood of Oviedo, according to regional reporting.
The incident, which officials have described as a “grave incident,” has been linked by authorities to a neighborhood dispute.
The sequence of events began shortly after 7:00 a.m. on Rafael Urrusti Street, where initial reports indicated a person was wounded by gunfire. A 17-year-old girl was struck by a bullet during the initial shooting; her condition is not reported as life-threatening. First responders deployed to the area, securing the perimeter as emergency services attended to the initial shooting victim.
During the security sweep, authorities located an open backpack featuring a blinking light inside a residential portal. Personnel from the TEDAX, the specialized bomb-disposal unit, were requested to investigate the suspicious object. While reports vary slightly on the exact timing, the detonation occurred in one of the building entrances between 8:40 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Amplio despliegue policial en el barrio ovetense de Villafría tras una explosión cuya causa se desconoce. Según testigos presenciales, un paquete ha explotado en la calle Rafael Urrusti. La explosión tuvo lugar en torno a las 08:45 horas, pero según algunos vecinos, una hora… pic.twitter.com/Qv7HrL5BbK
As a subinspector specializing in canine units approached to inspect the backpack, the device detonated. The explosion resulted in the immediate death of the canine handler and left his TEDAX colleague with critical injuries. Emergency medical services transferred the surviving officer to the Central University Hospital of Asturias, where he underwent the amputation of a leg.
The National Police established a wide security perimeter around the neighborhood as investigators worked to secure the scene. Municipal authorities, including Oviedo Mayor Alfredo Canteli, moved to the location to gather firsthand information amid initial confusion surrounding the sequence of events. While the device was allegedly triggered by a man, the National Police continue to examine the scene.
As forensic teams and specialized investigators continue examining Rafael Urrusti Street, the exact motive behind the initial shooting and the deployment of the explosive device remains under active investigation.
