In the hospitality sector, the closing hours of a shift often involve restocking the bar with drinks and tidying the space to welcome guests again the next day. This was the routine sequence of tasks for a bartender at Barrios Tavern in the Casablanca district on a recent Sunday, until a shocking escalation altered the evening. A Romanian national reportedly assaulted his former partner behind the bar, delivering a brutal beating with kicks and punches. The injuries were severe enough to fracture facial bones, including the cheekbone and nose. Authorities promptly detained the assailant, and he was urgently transported to Miguel Servet hospital in Zaragoza, where medical personnel attended to his injuries.
The incident is said to have occurred Sunday afternoon, with the assailant arriving at Barrios Tavern on Embarcadero Street around 9 p.m. and waiting for more than an hour until the venue emptied. Once alone, he allegedly moved behind the bar, seized his former partner by the hair, and began a violent assault. The confrontation left a trail of damage and blood across floors and furniture as the victim attempted to shield herself from the blows and distance herself from the attacker. The sounds of struggle attracted the attention of bystanders, including a passerby who sought help from nearby security personnel.
A security guard from a nearby Alcampo store, who happened to be nearby, intervened by alerting emergency services after guiding the victim to safety. The guard acted quickly to ensure the victim could reach a secure exit, signaling the urgency of the situation to responders on the scene. A team from the Citizen Security Brigade of the Superior Headquarters of Aragon arrived to assess the scene and provide immediate support. Given the seriousness of the injuries, responders arranged for rapid hospital transport for the victim. Reports describe visible trauma such as a bleeding lip, swelling around the eye, and suspected facial fractures; witnesses noted the victim appeared frightened for her life.
A cigarette and a beer
Despite the severity of the attack, the accused did not flee. According to authorities, he remained behind the bar after the incident, smoking a cigarette and drinking a glass of beer. He did not deny the assault but reportedly justified his actions by accusing the former partner of infidelity, framing the situation as the result of jealousy. He later engaged with customers at the bar, attempting to downplay the severity of the events, according to witnesses.
Evidence from the scene included the attacker’s appearance, as well as damage to chairs, tables, and interior fixtures, all of which bore signs of a brutal confrontation. Blood traces were reported on multiple surfaces, corroborating the accounts of the predawn struggle. The National Police Agency obtained video surveillance footage from the bar, which captured the assault and the ensuing chaos, providing a clear record of the sequence of events for investigators. The footage is being used to corroborate witness statements and to piece together the full timeline of the incident. The case is being reviewed by the authorities to determine charges and to ensure the safety of all patrons and staff who were present that night.