The Spanish National Police is warning about the serious consequences of making false emergency calls reporting bombs or other dangerous situations, as a series of suspicious-package alerts and false bomb alarms has triggered security operations in several parts of the country.

A deliberately false report that causes police, emergency or rescue services to mobilise can constitute a criminal offence under Spanish law. Depending on the circumstances, those responsible can face imprisonment or a substantial financial penalty.

The warning comes amid a period of heightened security following several incidents involving abandoned suitcases and suspicious bags, including operations that have led to street closures, evacuations and the deployment of specialist explosives teams.

In Ibiza, an abandoned suitcase in Sant Antoni on 10 November also prompted a significant police response, with several streets closed and residents evacuated before specialists confirmed that it contained no explosives.

What Are the Legal Consequences of a False Bomb Threat in Spain?

Article 561 of Spain's Criminal Code establishes penalties for anyone who falsely claims or simulates a situation of danger to the community, or an incident requiring assistance, when that report causes police, assistance or rescue services to be mobilised.

The offence carries one of two possible penalties:

• Imprisonment: from three months and one day to one year.

• Financial penalty: a fine of between three and 18 months under the Spanish day-fine system.

The fine is not a fixed amount. Under the day-fine system, the daily payment is determined by the court, taking the convicted person's financial circumstances into account.

The law is intended to address situations in which a person deliberately creates a false emergency that results in the deployment of public services.

It is important to distinguish an intentionally fabricated threat from a genuine report made in good faith. Someone who notices an unattended suitcase or an object that appears suspicious and contacts the authorities is not automatically committing an offence simply because the object is later found to be harmless.

The circumstances and intent behind the report matter.

False Alerts Can Trigger Major Security Operations

A false bomb warning can have consequences far beyond the telephone call itself.

When authorities receive information suggesting the presence of an explosive device, security procedures may require them to establish exclusion zones, evacuate buildings, close roads or transport facilities and deploy specialist teams to examine the suspected object.

Depending on the location, the response can involve National Police officers, Guardia Civil personnel, explosives-disposal specialists, canine units, emergency services and other public resources.

These operations can also disrupt transport, delay flights, interrupt public services and affect businesses and residents in the surrounding area.

The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has previously highlighted the consequences of false bomb threats against airports, warning that they can interrupt airport operations, delay flights and divert emergency resources that may be needed for genuine incidents.

In an operation announced on 16 October 2026, the National Police reported the arrest of two people in Málaga and Murcia over their alleged involvement in bomb threats directed at two Spanish airports.

Investigators said the suspects had allegedly used another person's identity to register for an internet-based telephone service and had made calls using falsified caller identification. Artificial intelligence was reportedly used to distort the voices.

The investigation examined possible offences including threats, extortion and public disorder. The authorities were also investigating possible links to online harassment and a practice known as swatting, in which false emergency reports are used to provoke a police deployment against a particular person or location.

These allegations relate to that specific investigation and should not be confused with the separate incidents involving suspicious luggage reported in November.

Several False Alarms Reported Across Spain

On 11 and 12 November, a series of suspicious-package alerts prompted police operations in different parts of Spain.

One of the most prominent incidents occurred in central Seville, where police closed Avenida de la Constitución after a suspicious backpack was found near the Archivo de Indias tram stop.

Explosives specialists carried out a controlled detonation, but no explosives were found inside the backpack.

Other alerts were reported near a school in Arganda del Rey, close to a petrol station in Galapagar, at a health centre in San Pedro Alcántara and at the headquarters of Podemos in Seville.

Police also received reports involving suspicious bags at Zaragoza-Delicias railway station and a church in Córdoba. In Murcia, specialists carried out a controlled detonation of a backpack inside a vehicle near the Guardia Civil headquarters.

Further incidents had been reported in Madrid, Guadarrama and Granada the previous day.

According to reporting on the incidents, none of the inspected objects in this series contained explosives.

Police sources said investigators were examining whether some of the alerts could be connected to a wider wave of incidents also reported in other European countries. However, they did not rule out the possibility of unrelated incidents or opportunistic behaviour.

At the time of reporting, no common origin had been publicly established for all the alerts.

Ibiza Also Experienced a Major Security Operation in Sant Antoni

The heightened concern surrounding suspicious luggage was also felt in Ibiza.

On Tuesday, 10 November, an abandoned hand suitcase at the junction of Calle Soledad and Calle Valencia in Sant Antoni prompted a substantial security operation.

The alert was raised after the suitcase was spotted unattended on the pavement near the offices of Endesa.

The Guardia Civil activated its explosives-disposal specialists, known as TEDAX, together with a canine unit trained to detect explosives. Sant Antoni Local Police deployed five patrols, representing all the units available during the morning shift.

As a precaution, officers established a security perimeter, closed several surrounding streets and evacuated the immediate area.

The suitcase was inspected and ultimately found to be empty, with no explosive device inside.

Subsequent reporting established that the person who had left the suitcase had been identified by the Guardia Civil. According to the account published the following day, the individual was not arrested.

This distinction is important. The incident in Sant Antoni involved an abandoned suitcase that prompted a precautionary response. There is no public confirmation that the person who left it had made a false bomb threat or intended to cause an emergency deployment.

The response demonstrates why the authorities treat unattended luggage seriously, even when there is no explicit threat.

A Real Explosion in Oviedo Adds to the Security Concerns

The incidents in November also took place against the backdrop of a serious explosion in Oviedo on 10 November.

A National Police officer died after an explosive device detonated during an intervention in the Asturian city, while another officer was seriously injured.

The incident was not a false alarm. It involved a real explosive device and is separate from the false alerts and suspicious-package reports being investigated elsewhere.

The events have contributed to heightened public concern and reinforced the importance of allowing specialist teams to assess potentially dangerous objects.

What Should You Do If You See a Suspicious Bag or Suitcase?

The Guardia Civil advises members of the public not to approach or handle objects that may contain explosives.

If you encounter an unattended item that appears suspicious:

• Do not touch, move or open it.

• Keep a safe distance.

• Alert the police or emergency services immediately.

• Avoid allowing other people to approach the object.

• Follow instructions given by responding officers.

• Do not put yourself at risk while trying to investigate or photograph the item.

In Spain, members of the public can contact the emergency services by calling 112. The Guardia Civil can also be reached on 062.

The authorities need people to report genuine concerns promptly. The legal warning is directed at those who deliberately fabricate emergencies and cause public services to be mobilised, not at people who responsibly report something they believe may be dangerous.

As the recent incidents demonstrate, even an object that ultimately proves harmless can require a substantial security response. Deliberately creating a false emergency can put people at risk, disrupt essential services and carry criminal consequences.