An Algerian man, 27, suffered serious injuries yesterday after setting himself on fire inside the Algerian Consulate building in Alicante, Spain. The incident occurred when the young man, who had arrived with his 22-year-old girlfriend, was denied the issuance of a passport because he did not meet all the required criteria. The girlfriend was also injured while helping her partner, and after receiving treatment at the General Hospital of Alicante, he was flown by helicopter to the Burn Unit at La Fe in Valencia for specialized care.
The events unfolded around 11:30 in the morning at the Algerian Consulate on Pintor Velázquez Street. Police sources stated that the 27-year-old arrived at the consulate with his girlfriend, presenting documents intended to obtain a passport. The staff informed him that he did not meet all the requirements, and as tensions rose, he began swearing at and threatening the consulate personnel. One officer reportedly suffered a hematoma in the leg during the confrontation. The man reportedly declared,
“If you don’t give me the passport, I’ll burn here myself”, minutes before producing a bottle containing a petrol-like liquid.
At that moment, the individual doused his head and the rest of his body with the flammable liquid and then set himself on fire. Firefighters and bystanders attempted to extinguish the blaze using a fire extinguisher, and about twenty people who were present fled the area, causing a pane of glass to break in the process. The scene drew attention as witnesses described the sudden, chaotic effort to control the flames.
The flamower then moved outside onto the street, where the girlfriend and several other bystanders helped extinguish the flames with a towel provided by a local shopkeeper. The incident prompted a rapid response from emergency services, including an ambulance from SAMU. Medical personnel attended to the man at the scene and transported him to the General Hospital Doctor Balmis of Alicante, where the severity of his burns was confirmed. Due to the seriousness of his condition, he was later transferred by helicopter to the Burn Unit at La Fe in Valencia for specialist treatment.
The investigation into the event continued as authorities gathered testimonies and reviewed surveillance footage to understand the sequence of actions and the factors that led to this desperate act. The episode has raised questions about the administrative procedures at the consulate and the circumstances that culminated in such a dramatic and dangerous protest. Public officials emphasized the urgent need for safeguarding measures and support services for individuals facing bureaucratic frustration to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As the scene settled, a line of responders and bystanders remained at a safe distance while officials coordinated the ongoing inquiry. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a moment of frustration can escalate into a perilous crisis, affecting multiple lives and touching a broad circle of witnesses and responders. Further details are expected to be released as authorities complete their review and medical teams assess the patient’s prognosis.
– Attribution: This article draws on initial reporting from local law enforcement and hospital officials, with corroboration from health and emergency services as the investigation unfolds. [Citation: Agencia EFE] –