In Oviedo On 10 November 2026, a police officer from the Policía Nacional was killed when an explosive device hidden in a Backpack exploded. Another officer from the specialist explosives disposal unit (TEDAX) was seriously injured; consistent reports by local and national media citing police sources say that one of his legs was amputated. The operation was linked to an earlier exchange of gunfire in a residential building in the district of Villafría.
According to police sources, officers had been called to the building after shots were fired there. A 17-year-old was reportedly injured by gunfire and taken to Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias ; her condition was initially described as stable. At the scene, police discovered a suspicious backpack in the entrance area. The explosive device detonated during the TEDAX measures called in as a result. The dog handler present was killed, while the bomb disposal expert suffered serious injuries.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the police are investigating the origin of the explosive device, its technical construction and possible motives. It was initially unclear whether it had been deliberately prepared in advance or planted in connection with a personal dispute. On the morning of 10 November, officials gave no information about possible suspects, citing the ongoing investigation and forensic analysis at the scene.
Police unions expressed their condolences to the family of the officer who was killed. The Delegación del Gobierno en Asturias coordinated the communication with the families and support for the officers involved, according to the authorities. The area around the residential building remained cordoned off over a wide perimeter; specialists documented traces and secured fragments of the device for analysis.
The incident highlights the risks faced by first responders and specialists when approaching suspected booby-trapped objects. Experts point out that even standard TEDAX procedures cannot rule out all uncertainty. The authorities say they will draw specific conclusions about possible sources of error or tactical adjustments only once the investigation is complete.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).