19.06.2025 14:12
A police officer who was off duty near Madrid, Spain, allegedly strangled a person he claimed had stolen his mobile phone, killing him in the middle of the street. Footage of the incident sparked significant outrage on social media. An investigation has been launched against the detained officer. The event has caused a major uproar in Spain and has reignited discussions about racism and police violence. Social media users compared the incident to the death of George Floyd and demanded justice.
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The incident that occurred in the town of Torrejon de Ardoz, near Madrid, the capital of Spain, has made headlines across the country. An off-duty police officer choked a man to death in the middle of the street, claiming he had stolen his phone. Footage of the incident has caused a huge uproar on social media.
The 58-year-old officer, whose name has not been disclosed, had his phone stolen while dining with a friend on Tuesday evening. The officer chased the suspect, tackled him to the ground, and attempted to subdue him by choking him.
In the footage of the incident, as the officer choked the man and pinned him to the ground, bystanders repeatedly shouted, "Please let him breathe!" in an attempt to intervene. However, the officer continued the choking maneuver, ignoring the warnings.
Even as a witness pleaded, "The police are already here, please let him go!" the officer did not cease his actions. Meanwhile, another civilian police officer, believed to be a friend of the officer, was crouched on the ground at the scene. One of the bystanders kicked him.
When police teams arrived at the scene, the suspect, a 35-year-old man of Moroccan descent, had lost consciousness. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a heart attack. Despite all the interventions by medical teams, he died at the scene.
Initial examinations suggest that the cause of death was asphyxiation. However, an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause. An investigation has been launched against the detained police officer, and he is expected to be brought to court on Thursday. It is also alleged that two police officers were under the influence of alcohol during the incident. Therefore, the court requested an alcohol test for the detained officer.
According to a report by the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the deceased man had recently been released from prison.
The events have caused a significant outcry in Spain. Political parties have reacted by stating that the incident is related to racism and police violence. The left-wing party Más Madrid stated, "Two off-duty police officers killed a person while under the influence of alcohol. This incident highlights how normalized police violence and institutional racism have become."
The party also demanded an immediate investigation into the incident and the provision of justice through a post on social media.
After the footage spread on social media, thousands of users reacted to the incident. One user expressed outrage, saying, "A person was killed for a phone. What has this society come to?" Another user compared the incident to the death of George Floyd, who was choked to death by police in the United States in 2020.
George Floyd died after police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck, an event that sparked massive protests worldwide.
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