On Thursday 12 November, police were still searching for Manuel Ferrero Álvarez, known as “El Ruso,” suspected of shooting a 17-year-old in Villafría and being connected to the backpack device that killed National Police sub-inspector Juan José Rodríguez, known as Jota, and his three-year-old German shepherd Deny. A 53-year-old Tedax officer was also seriously injured and taken to the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias.
The shooting took place as the girl was leaving for school on Tuesday 10 November. Police later found a backpack containing what appeared to be an explosive device in the entrance area of a residential block on Calle Rafael R. Urrusti. Specialists reportedly moved it outside to reduce the danger to residents, but it detonated at about 8:50 a.m. The Tedax officer remained critically injured. By Wednesday, nearly 100 officers were reportedly searching for Ferrero Álvarez across Oviedo.
That day, a magistrate at the Oviedo Court of Instance ordered Tatiana’s release without precautionary measures, following a request from the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Principality of Asturias. She had been detained on 10 November and appeared before María Luisa Llaneza García, magistrate of Oviedo Investigating Court No. 4. The court ordered her provisional release without bail or additional restrictions; she was not required to surrender her passport or report periodically. She remains linked to the investigation. The ruling does not affect the police search for the suspected attacker, who remains at large.
Residents of the Villafría social housing block on Calle Rafael Urrusti said they feared Tatiana might return. José Manuel Álvarez, president of the residents’ community, told El Correo that Tatiana had spoken to a neighbour days before the attack and said El Ruso seemed very unusual; she had even considered calling 112. Álvarez also told the newspaper that Manuel’s behaviour had worsened in recent months, particularly after his mother died less than a year ago.
Álvarez, who has lived in the building for 27 years, said most neighbours had problems with El Ruso. He told El Correo that residents did not want Tatiana back and feared the suspected attacker, who remained free.
The release came as Oviedo held a brief civil farewell for Rodríguez, who died in Tuesday’s explosion. He was awarded the gold medal for Police Merit, which his family received alongside a Spanish flag. The seriously injured Tedax officer, still in intensive care, was awarded the silver medal. RUSSPAIN.COM had also covered arrangements for the Urda crash victims in its Toledo funeral report.
The ceremony took place behind closed doors at the National Police barracks in Buenavista. The doors opened briefly as an officer carried Rodríguez’s urn past several of the dogs he had worked with. Secretary of State for Security Aina Calvo and Police Director Francisco Pardo attended, along with Asturias president Adrián Barbón and Oviedo mayor Alfredo Canteli.
