‘I wanted to leave him blind’: Shocking acid attack on security guard in Granada

Most people would expect a security guard at a busy bus station to deal with arguments, disruptive passengers or people refusing to follow the rules. Few would expect one of those encounters to end with a corrosive nitric acid being thrown into their face. That is what happened in Granada, where a security guard suffered eye damage and burns after a man returned to the city’s bus station carrying a bottle of the powerful substance and attacked him.

Police say the man later told them he wanted to ‘leave him blind’, while the acid was powerful enough to partially melt the guard’s bracelet and penetrate his protective vest. The attack happened at Granada bus station at around 7.45pm on Sunday, August 23, after the security guard had challenged the 55-year-old man over disturbances at the facility.

Man returns with acid after confrontation

According to the Policía Nacional, the man left the station following the initial incident and went to a nearby shop, where he bought the corrosive nitric acid cleaning product. He then proceded to put the substance into a plastic bottle containing a soft drink before returning to the bus station. The disguise meant the contents were not immediately obvious to those around him Once back inside, he approached the security guard and threw the liquid at him, striking him in the face. The guard suffered corneal damage, as well as chemical burns affecting his face, neck, back and legs.

The severity of the substance was also evident from the damage it caused to his equipment. Police said the liquid partially melted the metal bracelet he was wearing and penetrated his protective vest, however,  the attack did not end with just the one security worker being targeted. A second security guard was also attacked with the substance, although he fortunately escaped physical injury, his protective vest was also damaged.

Police say suspect wanted to blind guard

The Policía Nacional subsequently detained the man in connection with the attacks. Police sources said he later told officers that his intention had been to throw the substance into the first guard’s face with the intention “to leave him blind”. The circumstances leading up to the attack are now part of the investigation. Police said the man had previously caused problems at the bus station and that the security guard had intervened before he left to obtain the corrosive product.

The sequence of events are concerning because the nitric acid was not present during the original confrontation. The man obtained it afterwards and returned to the station, indicating that his acts were premeditated. The 55-year-old is also described by police sources as being homeless and having around 20 previous criminal records.

Security workers demand greater protection

The incident has prompted renewed concern over the conditions faced by private security workers at the Granada bus station. CCOO del Hábitat Granada condemned the attack and called for more security guards to be deployed during each shift. The union said workers at the station are exposed to threats, disturbances and confrontations while carrying out their duties.

It also called for appropriate protective equipment, including approved protective clothing and vests capable of providing greater protection against attacks. For workers responsible for dealing directly with difficult situations in a busy transport facility, the incident  has drawn attention to the potential consequences when those encounters escalate into violence.

Suspect released provisionally

The Policía Nacional placed the detained man at the disposal of the judicial authorities on Tuesday. He was subsequently released provisionally, according to police sources cited in reports on the case. The judicial proceedings remain ongoing.

His release does not amount to an acquittal, and he has not been convicted of the attack as of yet. The investigation will establish the circumstances of what happened and determine any criminal responsibility. The injured guard’s condition following the attack has also become a central concern, particularly because the substance struck his eyes.

The attack leaves serious questions over guard safety

Corrosive chemicals can cause serious and permanent damage when they come into contact with the eyes or skin. In this case, the guard was struck across several parts of his body, while his equipment and jewellery showed just how aggressive the substance was. The attack has also raised questions about how security staff can be protected when they are required to intervene in disturbances in public places.

What began with a security worker challenging a man over problems at Granada’s bus station escalated after the man left, obtained a corrosive substance and returned with intention to cause harm to on duty guard. The case will now continue through the courts, while the injured guard recovers from burns and eye damage sustained while doing his job.