A group of thieves carried out a bold assault on an ATM early on Monday, exploding the machine with a powerful charge and then fleeing with a substantial haul. The cash, estimated at more than 40,000 euros, was seized as the robbers, who wore hoods and ski masks to dodge security cameras, used two high-end cars stolen from different parts of Valencia just before the attack. The suspects abandoned both vehicles on their flight and set them on fire to erase any identifying traces. National Police investigators have opened an inquiry to locate and arrest those responsible.
The incident took place shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Sunday at a Bankinter ATM located at the junction where Alfahuir Street meets Duque de Mandas Street, in the Sant Llorenç neighborhood of Valencia. The attackers inserted an explosive into the cash dispenser and, after the blast, made off with the money, which exceeded 40,000 euros. They disappeared in two cars, a BMW and an Audi. Neighbors alerted authorities before police arrived, calling emergency services after hearing the explosion and witnessing a resulting fire that damaged a van and a car parked outside the bank.
The Civil Guard later reported that both vehicles were found burnt out in the Chiva industrial park. The cars had been stolen recently in Valencia, and their owners had not noticed the theft as they were at home resting.
Explosive analysis
Forensic experts from the scientific police inspected the cashiers early today and collected samples to determine whether acetylene, a common chemical used in explosions, or other explosive materials were employed. Investigators are also considering whether a different type of explosive tape was used, a choice some say may be considered cleaner and less damaging to banknotes, though the exact method remains under study. In recent years, some groups have used a explosive known as the “mother of the devil” by several experts, due to the dramatic impact and the attention it garners. The technical term for this compound is examined in its gaseous form, similar to acetylene, with trials continuing to determine the precise composition of the device used in this case.
This morning’s somewhat amateurish ATM raid marks the first of its kind in two years in the Valencian Community. The last similar incidents occurred in 2020, around the start of the pandemic and just after lockdowns ended, with several such attacks recorded across the region, including Torrent, Els Poblets (Denia), and Santa Pola. The latest incident points to a pattern that, while not new, continues to worry authorities. So far, no arrests have been reported in connection with these robberies.
Earlier in June, Spain’s Civil Guard’s Central Operational Unit (UCO) announced the arrest of seven individuals linked to Europe’s most active ATM-explosive gang. The operation, conducted in coordination with Europol, involved cases across Spain, Belgium, and Romania and charged the suspects with 22 criminal acts carried out between 2019 and 2020. The group allegedly generated profits of around 1.5 million euros from these acts, with robberies spanning several countries, including Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. The suspects were identified as responsible for seven ATM attacks in the northwest of Spain, operating from a base in Ribadeo, Lugo. (Source attribution: National Police, Civil Guard, Europol reports)