Mallorca Police Officer Shot Twice During Street Barbecue Dispute in Palma
A local police officer in Palma, Mallorca, was shot twice in the leg after a man allegedly grabbed his service pistol during a police intervention over an unauthorised street barbecue.
The incident took place shortly before 8pm on Saturday, November 14, in the Corea neighbourhood of Camp Redó. A 53-year-old Spanish man was arrested at the scene, while the injured officer was taken to Son Espases Hospital. He is understood to be out of danger.
The incident is now being investigated by Spain’s National Police, with questions remaining about exactly how the officer was disarmed and who fired the shots.
How the shooting unfolded in Palma
The incident happened at the junction of Calle Felipe II and Calle Infant Pagà , in the Corea neighbourhood of Palma.
Officers from the Palma Local Police Preventive Action Group (GAP) were called to the area following complaints from residents about a group holding a barbecue in the street.
When officers arrived and instructed those involved to remove the barbecue, the situation reportedly escalated into a violent confrontation.
According to information attributed to the National Police, several people confronted the officers and threw stones and other objects at them.
During the disturbance, officers attempted to arrest one of those involved on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. Another person allegedly managed to grab an officer’s service weapon and fired twice, hitting the officer in the thigh.
Other officers eventually managed to overpower the suspect, recover the firearm and make an arrest.
Injured officer taken to Son Espases Hospital
Emergency services treated the injured officer before transferring him to Son Espases University Hospital in Palma.
The Palma City Council confirmed that the officer was stable and out of danger following the shooting.
Palma Local Police also published a message of support for their injured colleague on social media.
The force described itself as one team and one family, wishing the officer strength and a speedy recovery.
53-year-old man arrested following the shooting
A 53-year-old Spanish man was arrested at the scene in connection with the shooting.
The National Police Homicide Group has taken over the investigation and is examining the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Investigators will need to establish exactly how the suspect allegedly obtained the officer’s service pistol and how the two shots were fired.
The incident prompted a significant police response, with both Local Police and National Police officers attending the scene.
Political leaders condemn the attack
The shooting prompted messages of support for the injured officer from senior political figures in the Balearic Islands.
Balearic President Marga Prohens and Palma Mayor Jaime MartÃnez expressed their support for the officer and condemned the incident.
MartÃnez described the attack as unjustifiable and praised the work of the police officers who responded to the confrontation.
The incident has also raised concerns about the risks faced by police officers during interventions that initially appear to involve relatively routine neighbourhood complaints.
HIGRH NEWS Analysis: A routine police call that turned into a serious shooting
The incident in Camp Redó highlights the dangers police officers can face when responding to disturbances in public spaces.
What began as a complaint about an unauthorised street barbecue ended with an officer being shot with his own service weapon.
The immediate priority is to establish exactly what happened during the confrontation, including how the firearm was taken and who fired it.
It is equally important to respect the legal rights of the arrested man and avoid treating allegations as established facts before the investigation is complete.
Our view is that the incident deserves a thorough investigation, both to establish individual responsibility and to understand how an officer could be disarmed during a confrontation of this kind.
The safety of police officers and the wider community must remain a priority.
Official Sources
– Ajuntament de Palma — Official municipal website: Palma City Council.
– PolicÃa Nacional — Official website: Spanish National Police.
