In Malaga, National Police officers arrested a 46-year-old woman who allegedly triggered public order disturbances. She is accused of contacting the AENA security department by phone, claiming she planned to derail aircraft if air traffic did not cease at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport.
Investigators from the Malaga Provincial Information Brigade were alerted to the threats through the AENA security channel. The caller allegedly claimed she possessed firearms sufficient to shoot down planes and warned she would begin targeting them if air traffic did not stop in the region.
Given that the incident occurred during a period marked by heightened security alerts, the country had already declared Level 4 counter-terrorism readiness on April 3 at 11:00 am. In response, officers from the Malaga Airport police station and the Provincial Information Brigade were promptly mobilized.
Following hours of inquiry, authorities were able to positively identify the individual behind the call and the threats she had made.
The suspect was located and arrested a few hours later, around 3:30 pm, with police actions deemed appropriate to the case, and she was anticipated to face charges on the grounds of disturbing public order.
This swift intervention prevented the escalation of the threat and allowed for the identification and arrest without triggering any evacuation or disruption of operations during a period of heavy air traffic and passenger movement.
Another arrest last month
Earlier in March, Malaga saw a separate police action in which a bomb-threat hoax targeted a shopping center supermarket. National Police officers associated with the Malaga Provincial Information Brigade were informed of the incident by the security department of the affected company. A 20-year-old woman was subsequently charged with disturbing public order after claiming on social media platform Twitter that a bomb would be planted at the supermarket within the shopping center at around 5:00 pm that day.
Agent investigators traced the virtual profile from which the threat originated and connected it to a related post from the company involved. The inquiry confirmed the authenticity of the message and established the link to the individual behind the tweet, prompting a formal arrest and ensuing charges.
These events illustrate the rapid response framework used by local law enforcement and security teams to counter threats, verify their credibility, and minimize disruption to public spaces and critical infrastructure whenever possible. The authorities emphasized ongoing cooperation with security partners to monitor social networks and immediate channels of communication that could be exploited to provoke fear or panic among the public. This case follows a pattern of swift, decisive action aimed at preserving public safety while ensuring due process for anyone implicated in unlawful acts, including online statements that translate into real-world risk.
In both instances, the police highlighted the importance of accurate threat assessment, information sharing among agencies, and the ability to respond without resorting to drastic measures unless the danger is confirmed. The public was reminded to rely on official advisories and avoid spreading unverified information on social platforms, as this can complicate investigations and undermine safety operations.