Ukrainian embassy worker is injured in letter bomb blast in Madrid
- The letter bomb blast occurred at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid
- Unnamed employee was taken to Nuestra Senora de America Hospital
- Spanish police have activated anti-terror protocol and cordoned off area
A Ukrainian Embassy worker in Madrid has been injured in a letter bomb blast.
The alarm was sounded at around 1pm local time and the explosion is said to have occurred when the embassy worker tried to open a letter.
The unnamed employee at the building in Madrid’s Hortaleza district went to the Spanish capital’s Nuestra Señora de America Hospital. It is not yet clear whether the incident is linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Spanish police have activated their anti-terror protocol and cordoned off the area around the embassy which is located on 52 Ronda Abubilla, Piovera. Experts from police bomb disposal Tedax are also at the scene with sniffer dogs and are currently carrying out an inspection to make the area safe.
A Ukrainian Embassy worker in Madrid has been injured in a letter bomb blast. Pictured: Spanish policemen secure the area after the explosion
The alarm was sounded at around 1pm local time and the explosion is said to have occurred when the embassy worker tried to open a letter. Pictured: The Ukraine Embassy in the Hortaleza district
Forensic experts are expected to move in afterwards. The injured person has a very small wound on the ring finger of their right hand following the incident.
A spokesperson for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Oleg Nikolenko, said in a statement that the employee’s life was not at risk.
He added that the staff member is a ‘commandant’ and that no one else had been injured. Mr Nikolenko added that security measures have been tightened at other Ukrainian embassies, on the urgent instruction of Mr Kuleba.
Mr Kuleba also said: ‘Whoever is behind this explosion they will not succeed in intimidating Ukrainian diplomats or stopping their daily work to strengthen Ukraine and to counter Russian aggression.’
The Foreign Minister also urged his Spanish counterparts to take urgent measures to investigate the attack.
A spokesperson for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Oleg Nikolenko, said that the employee’s life was not at risk. Pictured: Mr Kuleba
The injured person has a very small wound on the ring finger of their right hand following the incident. Pictured: Police at the scene after the incident
Spanish police have activated their anti-terror protocol and cordoned off the area around the embassy which is located on 52 Ronda Abubilla, Piovera. Pictured: Officers at the scene
Experts from police bomb disposal Tedax are also at the scene with sniffer dogs and are currently carrying out an inspection to make the area safe. Pictured: Police block the street following the blast
A Spanish National Police source said: ‘The embassy worker has suffered light injuries and went to hospital himself. An investigation is underway.’
There has not yet been any official reaction from the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid.
A judge at Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court, which deals with terrorist investigations, will oversee the probe launched as a result of this lunchtime’s explosion.
