Two arrested over death of worker in Murcia gunpowder factory explosion
Five people were injured and one killed when in the munitions factory incident in Javalí Viejo earlier this year
Police have arrested two senior managers of the Javalí Viejo gunpowder factory in connection with the explosion that killed one worker and injured five others in late January 2025. The arrests follow months of investigation by the Polícia Nacional into the deadly blast at the Rheinmetall facility in Murcia.
In the words of a Polícia Nacional press release, "Over the last few months, the Policía Nacional has carried out an important investigation to clarify the motives and determine the possible responsibilities for the gunpowder deflagration that occurred on January 30 at the premises of an arms and explosives manufacturing company located in Javalí Viejo (Murcia), which caused serious injuries to several people and the death of one of the workers.
"The deflagration occurred at around 4.30pm in a warehouse of the company, specifically in a gunpowder packaging workshop, causing a fire that affected the industrial building and the adjacent woodland, seriously injuring two people and injuring four others to varying degrees, all of whom were treated in different hospitals in the city of Murcia, with one of the affected workers dying a few days later."
The investigation by the Policía Nacional officers focused on who might possibly be responsible for the maintenance of the safety measures at the plant, and an exhaustive analysis of the documentation provided by the company led to the detection of what were described as"irregularities" in their safety measures.
"The coordinated and meticulous work carried out by the Judicial Police and Scientific Police Brigades, together with the work of the TEDAX (explosives deactivation technicians) of the National Police, and the carrying out of several ocular inspections at the site of the deflagration, made it possible to gather a series of evidence and clues that were fundamental for the investigation and determination of the causes of the event and possible responsibilities," police stated.
As a result of their investigations, the Policía Nacional arrested two managers of the multinational company who "had the duty to guarantee the health and safety of the workers in their workplace". The two arrestees were charged with "crimes against workers' rights, as well as crimes of homicide and injuries due to imprudence".
"In addition, three other workers of the company were investigated for their involvement in the events, and the judicial authorities were informed of the outcome of the complex investigation," concluded the police statement.
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