An incident occurred in the city of Los Palacios (province of Seville, Andalusia) that shocked local residents and drew nationwide attention in Spain. On Wednesday evening, at the popular local café Las Postas, a customer started a fire after being refused mayonnaise for his meat sandwich order.
According to staff, the man entered the café with his son and another person. He ordered a meat sandwich and asked if ketchup or mayonnaise was available. The staff explained that the venue did not have a kitchen and the snacks arrived pre-made, so there were no extra sauces. After hearing this, the man left but soon returned with a bottle filled with gasoline, which he had obtained from a nearby gas station.
Upon returning, he asked again about the sauces and, after receiving the same response, poured gasoline onto the bar counter and set the premises on fire. The perpetrator then quickly left the café. At the time, six staff members, several children, and numerous customers seated on the terrace were present. Thanks to the quick response of the staff, the fire was extinguished with a fire extinguisher and one employee chased after the arsonist.
Other customers joined the pursuit, and soon officers from the Guardia Civil arrived at the scene. The man was detained near the hotel where he was staying. According to the investigation, the detainee had come to Los Palacios from Priego de Córdoba on business and was not a local resident.
No one was seriously injured in the incident, but several customers and staff experienced significant stress and required medical attention due to anxiety attacks. The establishment’s owner noted that the situation could have ended in tragedy if not for the swift actions of the staff.
The following morning, the court in Utrera ordered the man to be held in custody without bail. He faces charges of arson and bodily harm, as well as endangering the lives and safety of others. The judge cited a high risk of reoffending and possible flight, given the seriousness of the crime.
Despite the incident, Las Postas reopened to customers the very next day. The staff and owner worked hard to restore order and resume normal operations. Local residents expressed their support by continuing to visit the café and helping to overcome the aftermath of the incident.
The case sparked significant public response and prompted discussions about safety in public spaces. Authorities emphasize the importance of remaining calm and showing respect in conflict situations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
