A middle-aged man was detained by members of the National Police last Friday after an incident at the Cathedral of Santiago. Reports indicate that he punched a reliquary-like object and attempted to grab a sharp item around his neck while distributing communion during a Eucharist in the cathedral. He also shouted anti-church remarks and directed criticism toward the Episcopal Conference, according to statements from the cathedral chapter. A mechanical pencil was used as a weapon in the confrontation.
When National Police officers arrived at the cathedral, the man, estimated to be between forty and fifty years old, had already been restrained by private security personnel. Following the assault, he surrendered and provided a statement before being taken to a police station and transferred to the courthouse for processing. Sources indicate that the priest did not suffer serious injuries, though officers advised filing a formal report with the Santiago Police Station to document the events that drew attention from many worshippers present at the Jacobean sanctuary. After the incident, cathedral authorities confirmed that the priest continued with his official duties as usual.
weekend balance
The city of Compostela saw a weekend marked by a series of crimes around Alameda Park and nearby university grounds. At 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, National Police units stopped a vehicle at Praza de Vigo driven by an unlicensed individual who did not possess a roaming permit. The driver faced penalties for violations of road safety regulations after authorities confirmed the lack of a valid driver’s license and the results of drug and breathalyzer tests.
Road safety issues continued to surface over the weekend with another incident involving a moped rider on Ánxel Casal Street who refused to submit to drug and breathalyzer testing, triggering further police action.
In addition to these cases, several traffic-related incidents resulted in material damage but no serious injuries. A vehicle on Xelmírez Street failed to brake properly and crashed into the side of a building, while two other crashes occurred on streets near Madrid and Torreira, with multiple vehicles colliding but no reported injuries. An incident near Praza Roxa involved property damage to a vehicle, and authorities had to intervene again in Travesa Fonseca, in front of the University of Santiago, due to disturbances on public roads. The weekend’s activity drew attention from local residents and officials alike as safety and maintenance concerns were addressed.