Media: Explosion occurs in Ukraine’s Embassy in Madrid, one person injured

30 November 2022, 13:43 GMT

An explosion has occurred in Ukraine’s Embassy in Madrid, an employee has been slightly injured, local media report, citing police sources.

According to La Vanguardia, the explosive device was put in a letter that had been mailed to the Ukrainian Embassy. The letter was addressed to the Ukrainian Ambassador, but it was a security guard who opened it, without scanning it first, the newspaper adds.

The injuries pose no threat to his life.

The police are currently operating on site, the anti-terrorism protocols have been implemented.

As of now, there has been no comment from the embassy.

update 7:53 pm

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Spain, Serhiy Pohoreltsev, told the Ukrainian media outlet European Pravda that it was not a letter that had blown up but a large parcel. It was addressed personally to the ambassador and did not have a return address, which is why his secretary grew suspicious of it. The woman gave the parcel to the commandant.
“Inside, there was a box, which is why the commandant began to have suspicions and he alone — so that no one was near — went outside with this ‘mail’ to the front yard before opening it. As soon as he opened it, he heard something click inside, instantly threw it aside, and only then heard the explosion,” Pohoreltsev says.
The commandant’s hands have been wounded, he has ended up with “something akin to concussion”, the ambassador adds.