Prison Fire Claims Life of Convicted Murderer in Catalonia
An inmate at Mas d'Enric prison has died following a cell fire he reportedly ignited himself.
A convicted murderer has died in a fire he allegedly started in his cell at Mas d'Enric prison in Tarragona, Catalonia.
The incident occurred around 3:00 AM on May 5, 2025, in module 5 of the facility.
The inmate, who was alone in his cell at the time, reportedly set fire to his mattress, which led to the flames consuming the area and resulting in his death, likely from smoke inhalation, according to the Catalonia Department of Justice.
Prison staff promptly responded to the emergency by activating established procedures for such incidents, extinguishing the fire, and providing initial medical care.
However, they were unable to revive the inmate, who was later pronounced dead by prison medical professionals.
The individual was serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of his wife and was classified under second-degree status, with a projected release date in 2043. Following the incident, a judicial team arrived at the prison to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, with authorities suggesting that it might be a case of suicide.
In addition to the judicial investigation, both the General Directorate of Penitentiary Affairs and the prison administration have initiated an internal inquiry to examine the situation and identify any potential warning signs that could improve preventive measures in the facility.
Prison conflicts and inmate safety have been significant challenges for the Catalan government, particularly under the leadership of Pere Aragonès, with the current Minister of Justice, Gemma Ubasart, facing scrutiny following a previous incident where an inmate murdered a cook at Mas d'Enric before subsequently taking his own life.
A report released by the Council of Europe in June highlighted the state of prisons in Spain and Europe, revealing that in Catalonia, the suicide rate among inmates stands at 16.8 per 10,000 prisoners.
This figure is notably higher than the national average of 7.3 and the European average of 7.1. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in suicide cases within Catalonia's prisons, with incidents rising from seven in 2019 to 11 in both 2020 and 2021, and reaching 14 in 2022. Although the figure dropped to six in 2023, the total returned to 11 in 2024, indicating a continuing upward trend.
The incident occurred around 3:00 AM on May 5, 2025, in module 5 of the facility.
The inmate, who was alone in his cell at the time, reportedly set fire to his mattress, which led to the flames consuming the area and resulting in his death, likely from smoke inhalation, according to the Catalonia Department of Justice.
Prison staff promptly responded to the emergency by activating established procedures for such incidents, extinguishing the fire, and providing initial medical care.
However, they were unable to revive the inmate, who was later pronounced dead by prison medical professionals.
The individual was serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of his wife and was classified under second-degree status, with a projected release date in 2043. Following the incident, a judicial team arrived at the prison to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, with authorities suggesting that it might be a case of suicide.
In addition to the judicial investigation, both the General Directorate of Penitentiary Affairs and the prison administration have initiated an internal inquiry to examine the situation and identify any potential warning signs that could improve preventive measures in the facility.
Prison conflicts and inmate safety have been significant challenges for the Catalan government, particularly under the leadership of Pere Aragonès, with the current Minister of Justice, Gemma Ubasart, facing scrutiny following a previous incident where an inmate murdered a cook at Mas d'Enric before subsequently taking his own life.
A report released by the Council of Europe in June highlighted the state of prisons in Spain and Europe, revealing that in Catalonia, the suicide rate among inmates stands at 16.8 per 10,000 prisoners.
This figure is notably higher than the national average of 7.3 and the European average of 7.1. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in suicide cases within Catalonia's prisons, with incidents rising from seven in 2019 to 11 in both 2020 and 2021, and reaching 14 in 2022. Although the figure dropped to six in 2023, the total returned to 11 in 2024, indicating a continuing upward trend.
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