Australia, UK embassies in Madrid evacuated after bomb threat

TV footage showed police cordon and fire trucks outside the embassies

MADRID: A skyscraper housing embassies in Madrid was evacuated on Tuesday after a bomb threat was received by telephone at the Australian embassy there, police spokesperson said.

The 57-storey, 235-metre (770-ft) high Torre Espacio, one of four towers located in the Spanish capital’s financial district, also houses the embassies of Britain and Canada.

A British embassy spokesperson said its staff had been evacuated around midday (1000 GMT) and were safely outside the building.



The Australian embassy said on Twitter: “The @AusEmbEsp will remain closed for the rest of today, Tuesday 16 April, until further notice. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The @AusEmbEsp will remain close for the rest of today, Tuesday 16 April, until further notice. Apologies for any inconvenience

— Embajada de Australia en Madrid 🇦🇺 (@AusEmbEsp) April 16, 2019

TV footage showed a police cordon and fire trucks outside the building.

“The usual emergency protocol was activated immediately,” the police spokeswoman said.