In Vitoria, a tense incident unfolded when a resident barricaded a home for hours, supplemented by an ax and a machete. The building, located in the Casco Viejo district near Nueva Street, experienced a small fire and property damage but no serious injuries were reported in the initial stages of the event.
Witnesses described a chaotic morning as a resident damaged a neighborhood mailbox, cut power and internet connections, and threw objects from windows. Doors and skylights were broken in the surge of activity, and the incident drew a rapid response from local authorities.
Initially, Local Police units arrived at the scene, followed by Ertzaintza officers and firefighters prepared to intervene. There were threats that the building might be set alight, which raised concerns for everyone nearby.
To ensure public safety, the area was cordoned off and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution. Gas supplies in the vicinity were intentionally shut down to reduce risk while the situation developed.
At the start, the man remained inside his residence, but he eventually moved to the rooftop, where he began hurling tiles onto the street. He carried an ax and a machete, using them to threaten the first responders who arrived on the scene.
The operation involved multiple specialized units from the district police, including a mediator, snipers, and other officers trained for high-risk interventions. Drones were deployed to monitor the suspect’s movements from above during the hours he stayed on the roof.
For several hours the person stayed on the roof, shifting positions and alternating between hiding on the roof and moving back into the building to resume barricading. At approximately 6:30 p.m., he left the roof and descended to street level, only to retreat back upstairs shortly afterward.
Firefighters laid down a large mat on the street as a precaution in case the individual contemplated jumping from height. Smoke began to emerge from the residence, accelerating the response from emergency crews.
Firefighters subsequently entered the building to assess and manage the fire damage. The situation was brought under control as the authorities neutralized the immediate threat, and the individual was detained shortly before 8:00 p.m. by security forces after a concentrated intervention. The authorities reported the successful containment and apprehension in the late afternoon hours.
The incident prompted ongoing coordination among police, fire services, and emergency management teams to ensure the safety of residents and to restore normal conditions in the neighborhood. Observers noted the scene emphasized the importance of rapid multi-agency cooperation when confrontations of this kind arise.