Senegalese national killed by police shooting in Hondarribia

Babacar Welle, a 46-year-old Senegalese national, died on September 28 in Hondarribia, in the Spanish Basque Country, after being shot by municipal police.

According to the Basque Government's Security Department, authorities responded to reports of a man threatening people with a knife. Officials state that during the intervention, Welle allegedly turned and attempted to stab an Ertzaintza officer multiple times, prompting a municipal police officer to fire three shots to repel the attack. While social media footage shows Welle walking barefoot with a knife, some witnesses have contested or nuanced the official account of the events.

The organization Horizon Sans Frontières (HSF) has expressed deep consternation regarding the incident. HSF president Boubacar Sèye has called for transparency and a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the use of a firearm. The organization has requested that the family be fully informed and supported by both Spanish authorities and Senegalese consular services, while urging the community to avoid premature judgment until the investigation concludes.