• Costa Calida
• Virtual EWN

By Helena EWN • Published: 28 May 2026 • 10:00 • 1 minute read

Residents in Molina de Segura (Murcia), contacted emergency services after spotting what they believed to be a dangerous animal on the rooftops of a residential area. The sighting prompted concern among neighbours, who reported seeing a large, unfamiliar figure positioned above the buildings. Several calls were made to the Policía Local, with initial descriptions varying depending on the witness.

Some residents thought they were looking at a dangerous breed of dog, while others believed the shape could be something more unusual. As more people noticed the figure, concern spread through the neighbourhood and the reports escalated to police. Given the uncertainty of the calls and the possibility that an animal could be involved in a populated area, officers were dispatched to investigate the situation.

Police deployed to investigate reports of animal on roof

On arrival, Policía Local officers began checking the area where the sightings had been reported. Attention focused on rooftops and nearby structures, where residents had described the presence of the animal-like figure. The response was treated as a potential public safety matter until the object could be properly identified. Officers worked from street level and surrounding access points to determine what had caused the alarm.

From a distance, the figure was visible but not clearly identifiable, which contributed to the confusion among residents who had reported it. Its elevated position and lack of clear movement made it difficult to determine whether it was an animal or an object. At this point, officers were essentially dealing with the classic case of “it looks like something, but nobody agrees on what”.

Object identified as large plush toy

After locating the source of the reports, officers were able to confirm that the object was not a living creature. What residents had described as a possible dangerous animal was in fact a large stuffed tiger placed on a rooftop.

Its size and positioning were enough to create the impression of an animal when viewed from street level. The combination of distance, angle and partial obstruction from surrounding buildings meant that the object appeared more realistic than anyone would have expected a soft toy to pull off. The mystery was solved immediately. No movement, no wildlife behaviour, just a very still stuffed tiger enjoying an unexpectedly dramatic rooftop role.

The police response concluded once officers were able to tackle the big cat to the ground. The situation was confirmed to be a false alarm, and officers fortunately did not require specialist animal control or additional emergency resources.

Confusion spread before clarification reached residents

Before the misunderstanding was resolved, reports of the supposed animal had already circulated among neighbours in the area. Each account added a little more uncertainty, which is how a “large wild animal on a roof” slowly becomes something everyone is slightly more dramatic about than the last person.

The rooftop had already achieves local legend status.

Once it became clear the source of the alarm was a stuffed toy, the reaction shifted quickly from concern to disbelief, followed almost immediately by the realisation that everyone had just been briefly outsmarted by a toy in a very good hiding spot. From ground level, the combination of height, distance and angle between buildings had done most of the work. The tiger itself was simply sitting there, doing nothing at all, which, unfortunately, is sometimes enough to cause a neighbourhood-wide debate.

In the end the stuffed tiger remained on the rooftop, no longer the focus of concern, and apparently quite content with its unexpected 5 minutes of fame!

A bar in Murcia has been honoured as one of the best in the country at the inaugural edition of the “T de Bares” awards, a ceremony organised by Tapas magazine and held at the Forbes House in Madrid. The Café Bar Verónicas, located in Murcia City, has been chosen to represent the region as one of the 18 best bars and restaurants, one per autonomous community in Spain.

The first edition of the “T de Bares” awards was created to recognise the bars, taverns, and restaurants that shine and bring Spain’s gastronomy to the next level. These establishments were chosen based on several factors, including culinary, cultural, and artistic value.

A world-class restaurant, hidden in plain sight in Murcia

Located in Plaza San Julián, next to the iconic Mercado de Verónicas, the Café Bar Verónicas has become a famed establishment in the city. The food in the restaurant uses fresh and local produce to create delicious traditional Murcian recipes, including langoustine “caballito” (a small, fried squid sandwich), grilled artichokes, and calamari sandwiches. Seafood, as an integral part of the Mediterranean diet, is a main focus of the menu.

Blending the friendly atmosphere of a neighbourhood bar with outstanding culinary technique, Café Bar Verónicas is a go-to choice for the residents of Murcia and beyond.

In addition to this recognition, this restaurant has also been awarded a Repsol Guide “Solete,” a prestigious honour in the culinary world.

The story of Samuel Ruiz, a hometown talent with a passion for culinary creativity

The head chef of the restaurant is the talented Samuel Ruiz, who began his career as a chef when he was just 19 at El Bulli, a restaurant run by Ferran Adrià in Roses, Spain on the Costa Brava. Following this, Chef Ruiz worked in internationally renowned kitchens including Dos Palillos in Barcelona, and Joël Robuchon’s Restaurant in Paris, France. Chef Ruiz also owns another restaurant in the Region of Murcia, a Japanese tavern called Kome.

The café is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Residents and visitors of the Region of Murcia should not miss the opportunity to visit this renowned spot in the city, an establishment with world-class food disguised as an unassuming hometown bar.