In Spain, five prison staff members were attacked by inmates in a single day. The incidents occurred at the facilities of Alhaurín de la Torre (Malaga), Picassent (Valencia), Estremera (Madrid), and Puerto III (Cádiz), sparking concern among trade unions about the increasing violence within the penitentiary system.
According to Acaip-UGT, all attacks took place over the course of Thursday. In each case, staff members sustained minor injuries, although two required medical treatment outside the facility. Union representatives note that such a high concentration of incidents in such a short time points to a worrying trend: over the past three years, there have been 1,541 assaults on prison staff, amounting to more than one case per day.
Incident details
At Alhaurín de la Torre prison, an isolated inmate with behavioral issues struck an officer as he opened the cell door to escort him for a walk. In Picassent, an inmate with psychiatric problems attacked a staff member, hitting him on the back and face during an attempt to defuse a conflict between other inmates. In both cases, the injured officers had to leave their posts to seek medical attention.
In Estremera, an officer received a heavy blow to the face from an inmate, causing him to lose balance and fall. Nevertheless, the injuries were also classified as minor. In Puerto III, two officers were injured after being attacked by an inmate amid a series of incidents related to the use of synthetic drugs, which, according to the union, were smuggled into the prison on paper. This scheme had already attracted the attention of the police: earlier in Botafuegos (Algeciras), a network using letters to deliver drugs to inmates was uncovered.
Union reaction and causes of rising violence
The Acaip-UGT union placed responsibility for what is happening on the Ministry of the Interior, pointing to the ‘inconsistent’ prison management policy. According to them, such incidents are not exceptions but a result of the deteriorating situation in prisons. In 2025, there were 529 assaults on staff, surpassing the figures from previous years.
Among the reasons for growing violence, unions cite an increase in the number of inmates, more complex inmate profiles, and a higher number of people with psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, facilities are acutely short of medical professionals: according to union estimates, the doctor shortage exceeds 75%, which negatively affects both safety and the quality of medical care.
Context and other incidents
The problem of violence and violations in Spanish prisons is not limited to attacks on staff. In March, police conducted an operation to stop a scheme for delivering synthetic drugs through letters in Botafuegos. Security and control issues in penitentiary institutions remain pressing: recently, in Ávila, a dangerous fugitive with multiple charges was arrested, which also sparked discussion about the effectiveness of the services (details on the arrest in Ávila).
