The Attack and Victims’ Condition
According to reports, the incident occurred around 11:00 AM on Monday, April 7, 2026, in the town of Montefrío, in the province of Granada. A 45-year-old man, armed with an axe, indiscriminately attacked passersby on a public street. The attack left three civilians with serious injuries, including two women and a 69-year-old man.
The injuries sustained were severe. One young woman suffered a serious head trauma resulting in a fractured skull, while another woman had her fingers severed as she tried to defend herself. All the injured were urgently transported to the hospital for medical care.
Suspect’s Arrest and Extremist Motives
Following the attack, the suspect, reportedly of Maghrebi origin, fled the scene in a car, causing a traffic accident during his escape. He was eventually cornered and arrested by police around noon in a nearby rural area.
During and after his arrest, the suspect repeatedly shouted extremist slogans, claiming he “felt the call” and yelling hate speech like “all Christians must die.” These remarks strongly indicated a motive rooted in religious extremism, leading authorities to treat the incident accordingly.
Authorities’ Response and Security Deployment
Following the incident, to address the sudden threat of extremist violence, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) deployed its special Reserve and Security Group (Agrupación de Reserva y Seguridad, ARS) to Montefrío. This unit is tasked with carrying out counter-terrorism measures and preventing potential copycat attacks or related violence.
During the post-attack security sweep, police also arrested another man for obstruction of justice by violently resisting arrest. The town is now under tight security, with the Civil Guard conducting round-the-clock patrols to ensure public safety and maintain order.
Direction of the Investigation
Due to the suspect’s background and his remarks during the arrest, the attack is being investigated as a potential case of terrorism. The main focus of the investigation is to determine the suspect’s radicalization process and to ascertain if he has any connections to extremist groups. This violent incident has put the entire country on high alert, with authorities calling on communities to be more vigilant and to cooperate with the deployed security forces.
