Nine arrested for vandalizing Madrid trains, causing 400,000 euros in damages

The National Police dismantled a group that stopped moving trains to graffiti and violently confronted passengers.

Generic image of police emergency lights reflecting on wet asphalt at night.
IA

Generic image of police emergency lights reflecting on wet asphalt at night.

The National Police have arrested nine individuals, including two minors, following months of investigation into the vandalism of trains on Madrid's railway network, causing damages estimated at over 400,000 euros.

The police operation concluded with the arrest of nine people, two of them minors, accused of causing damage to Madrid's railway system. The arrests occurred over three consecutive days—May 27, 28, and 29—and the investigation has clarified a total of 107 criminal acts, including 90 counts of property damage and 17 of public disorder.
The group employed a method known in railway jargon as 'palancazo': activating the emergency brake to stop the train and then painting the carriages within minutes. This practice not only causes significant material damage but also endangers the safety of passengers. The detainees aimed to gain notoriety within the graffiti community.
The violence used by the group was not limited to the train cars. In some incidents, they used spray cans as blowtorches and aggressively confronted passengers. They also actively resisted arrest by police officers and security guards during interventions.
During the investigation, materials such as portable angle grinders, master keys for train depots, and numerous spray paint cans were seized. The operation's final tally includes 107 solved criminal acts, with damages exceeding 400,000 euros, impacting Madrid's public transport network.