Spanish authorities have arrested a 52-year-old man in connection with a fire that forced the evacuation of the La Vaguada shopping center in Madrid on Saturday. The incident, which occurred around 5:30 p.m., began in a loading and unloading area where cardboard, plastic, and other packaging materials were stored. While the fire was contained to this specific zone and did not reach the main retail areas, the resulting thick smoke necessitated a full, orderly evacuation of the facility to ensure public safety.
Emergency services, including nine units of the Madrid City Fire Department, responded quickly to the scene. Their intervention prevented the blaze from spreading, and the fire was extinguished within about an hour. One security guard received treatment for mild smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported. The evacuation was managed by the center's security staff in coordination with the National and Municipal Police.
Following the incident, police launched an investigation that led to the suspect's arrest in the early hours of Sunday. Officers from the Citizen Attention Group spotted the man hiding among parked vehicles near the shopping center. He displayed evasive behavior when approached, leading to his identification and subsequent arrest. The suspect is now in custody and awaiting a court appearance.
Reports indicate that the man had been expelled from the shopping center earlier that day after being caught attempting to steal. It is alleged that he threw a lit cigarette into the flammable waste containers, triggering the fire. The shopping center, a major landmark in the Fuencarral-El Pardo district, remains a focal point for local commerce, and the swift response by authorities helped minimize the disruption to the public.