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The Policía Nacional have arrested a man in Palencia (in the northern autonomous community of Castile and León) accused of making a series of bomb threats against the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.

 

Investigators say up to twenty phone calls were made on Monday August 12, in which the suspect repeatedly claimed he planned to detonate an explosive device at the monument, while also directing racist and xenophobic insults at staff.

 

The threats were received by the cathedral’s security service and prompted an immediate response. Multiple police units were dispatched to the Mosque-Cathedral, with officers remaining on alert for about an hour as they worked to verify the situation and ensure public safety. In the end, there was no danger, and no device was found in the historic building.

 

According to investigators, all of the calls originated from a single telephone line, which allowed them to quickly trace the suspect to the municipality of Palencia. He was later arrested on charges of public disorder and hate crimes due to the discriminatory nature of the threats.

 

Police confirmed the calls had been made throughout the afternoon and evening of August 12, escalating concern over the possible risk to one of Spain’s most important heritage sites.

 

This is not the first time the Mosque-Cathedral has faced a crisis this summer. In early August, a fire in the building’s roof sparked international concern, though authorities assured that the monument itself had been declared structurally safe. Since then, restoration work has been progressing steadily, with plans for the full recovery of damaged areas expected to be completed by mid-2026.

 

The latest case adds to the challenges of safeguarding one of Córdoba’s most recognised landmarks, which each year draws thousands of visitors from around the world. Authorities say security measures around cultural and religious sites remain a priority, both to protect heritage and to reassure the public.

 

The judicial process against the arrested man is now under way, with police stressing that threats of this nature will not be taken lightly. As one officer explained, the resources mobilised during such alerts are significant, and each case must be treated as potentially real until proven otherwise.

 

Image: wikicommons