A Spanish police officer has been killed and another seriously injured after a suspicious backpack exploded during a police investigation into a violent family dispute in the northern city of Oviedo.
The blast occurred on Rafael R. Urrusti Street on Tuesday morning, after officers were called to investigate a shooting involving two families in a residential neighbourhood.
The incident began when a young woman was shot and injured by a man, according to local authorities. The suspect fled the scene, and police were searching for him, with Spanish news agency EFE reporting that he could still be armed.
Residents said they contacted emergency services after hearing three gunshots. Officers subsequently discovered a suspicious backpack near the entrance of the building where the shooting had taken place, prompting the deployment of a specialist bomb disposal team.
Atentado na Espanha! Bomba explode em Oviedo: pelo menos um policial morto e outro gravemente ferido.
Conforme El País, agentes de unidade K-9 chegaram para examinar mochila suspeita e ocorreu explosão.
Policiais encontraram o objeto após serem chamados por disparos de arma de… pic.twitter.com/I2MXWxdQnC
— Área Militar (@areamilitarof) November 10, 2026
The bag reportedly detonated as officers began examining it, killing a member of the National Police’s Special Canine Unit and seriously injuring an officer from the military bomb disposal unit.
The National Police confirmed the death in a statement on X, naming the officer as Juan José.
“We are saddened by the death of our colleague Juan José, from the Special Canine Unit, during the inspection of a suspicious backpack in Asturias,” the force said.
“Our hearts are with his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.”
The force also wished the injured officer a speedy recovery.
The young woman who was shot was taken to the Central University Hospital of Asturias. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
🚨 Última Hora: grave suceso esta mañana, sobre las 07:30 horas, en el barrio de #Villafría de #Oviedo.
👮🏻♂️ Explosión de artefacto que, según primeros datos, ha causado la muerte de un compañero, un segundo compañero gravemente herido se debate por su vida. Nuestro apoyo a sus… pic.twitter.com/XN0HvaxySh
— Antena 5 Radio (@a5radio) November 10, 2026
The explosion has turned an investigation into a neighbourhood shooting into a major security incident, raising urgent questions about the circumstances surrounding the device and the whereabouts of the suspected gunman.
Police have yet to establish publicly whether the backpack was deliberately planted as part of the original dispute or whether the explosion was connected to a wider attack.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the search for the armed suspect adding to the urgency of the operation.
The death of the officer has also prompted an outpouring of sympathy from colleagues, highlighting the risks faced by specialist teams tasked with examining potentially lethal devices.
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