Man arrested after axe attack while allegedly shouting “All Christians must die”
A man of Maghrebi origin was arrested in Montefrío, Granada, after attacking several neighbours with an axe. During the incident and subsequent arrest, he allegedly shouted “All Christians must die” and “I have felt the call of Allah”. The Civil Guard has stepped up its presence in the town to prevent further disturbances as investigations whether the attack was religiously motivated are ongoing. The victims suffered head and hand injuries.
On 7 April 2026, a serious violent incident took place in the municipality of Montefrío, in the province of Granada, Spain, when a man allegedly armed with an axe attacked several residents in a public street shortly before 11:00 a.m.
According to media reports and law enforcement sources, the first victim was a 69-year-old man with mobility difficulties who was approached and struck while walking outdoors. He reportedly attempted to defend himself with his walking stick and survived the assault. The attacker is then alleged to have continued through the area, striking two women aged 52 and 78. One of the women sustained severe head trauma, while the other suffered injuries to her hands, including the amputation of a finger. Both were hospitalised in serious condition.
The suspect, described as a 45-year-old man of Moroccan origin who had been residing in the town for several months, was arrested shortly afterwards. During his transfer to custody, he allegedly made statements including: “I have felt the call of Allah” and “All Christians must die.” At the time of reporting, officials have neither confirmed nor ruled out a possible religious or extremist motivation as investigations are ongoing. The suspect had no known criminal record and no documented psychiatric history.
The attack occurred amid pre-existing tensions within the municipality. In the weeks prior, some residents had publicly expressed concerns about thefts and disturbances in the town, which they attributed to certain groups of immigrants. In a separate incident, a local resident was reportedly detained for issuing death threats against Moroccan immigrants. Media reporting further indicates that the assault followed a series of confrontations between segments of the local population and immigrant groups, against a backdrop of accusations of repeated robberies in the area.
In response to the attack, residents gathered outside the town hall in a spontaneous demonstration calling for increased security. The Guardia Civil subsequently reinforced its presence in Montefrío, including the deployment of additional units, with the stated aim of preventing retaliatory incidents and preserving public order.
Investigations remain ongoing.
Photo: libertadreligiosa