Overview

• The attack occurred on Calle Prado near the Teatro Ateneo in central Madrid on May 8, 2025, before Vice President Yolanda Díaz arrived at the scene.
• The assailant headbutted a police bodyguard, injuring him, and brandished two knives retrieved from his backpack while threatening officers.
• Reinforcements from the Policía Nacional’s specialized units subdued the man using a Taser after he refused to drop the weapons and threatened self-harm.
• The attacker was arrested and charged with assaulting an authority figure and making serious threats; he is currently in custody at the Centro police station.
• Authorities are investigating the incident, including the potential role of the attacker’s mental health, while Díaz’s security detail reviews its protocols.