Madrid's La Vaguada Mall Fire Suspect Detained

A fire broke out on Saturday at about 17:20 in the loading‑area containers of the La Vaguada shopping centre in the Fuencarral‑El Pardo district of Madrid. The blaze, fed by cardboard, plastic and other packaging materials, produced a dense column of smoke that was visible from outside the building and prompted the orderly evacuation of shoppers and staff.

Nine fire‑fighter units from the Madrid City Fire Department extinguished the flames, and SAMUR emergency medical personnel treated a security guard for mild smoke inhalation. No serious injuries were reported. Police from the National Police and the Madrid Municipal Police coordinated traffic control and the evacuation.

In the early hours of Sunday, around 01:00, officers from the National Police’s Citizen Assistance Group located a man hiding near parked vehicles near the mall. He was identified as the alleged arsonist, showed evasive behavior, and was taken into custody. He is expected to appear before a judge.