In the city of Miranda de Ebro, located in the province of Burgos, police have detained two minors suspected of attempted murder and hate crimes. The case concerns two incidents that occurred in the spring and summer of 2025, both of which caused significant public outcry.
The first incident took place on the night of April 22. A homeless man, who usually spent the night near the bus station, was attacked. According to investigators, two teenagers approached the sleeping man and threw a pre-prepared burning box filled with paper and soaked in flammable liquid at him. As a result of the fire, the victim lost his sleeping bag and blanket, but avoided serious injuries. A witness confirmed that the attackers set the box on fire just before the attack.
Particular outrage was sparked by the fact that the teenagers filmed the incident while mocking the victim. Investigators have classified the actions of those detained as attempted murder, aggravated by hate towards socially vulnerable groups.
The second incident involved the arson of a market stall during the San Juan del Monte festival, which took place on the night of June 9. At the time, the stall’s owner, a Peruvian national, was in her car near the trading site. Hearing a commotion, she discovered her stall was engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread, threatening other stalls and people camping nearby. Thanks to swift action by police and firefighters, no casualties occurred, though material damages exceeded 35,000 euros.
The investigation revealed that the same two teenagers were responsible for the arson, along with a third acquaintance. Before the attack, they also recorded a video in which offensive and racist remarks can be heard. According to other vendors, one of the saleswomen had recently faced racially motivated threats before the incident.
Local criminal police officers quickly identified all three suspects. After their arrest, the minors were handed over to the juvenile prosecutor’s office in Burgos. The court ordered them placed in a specialized facility pending further investigation.
Both incidents have caused concern among residents of Miranda de Ebro and drawn attention to the problem of hate crimes in the region. Police continue efforts to identify possible similar cases and urge citizens to report any acts of aggression against vulnerable groups.
