The incident occurred at El Acebuche prison in Almería, just one day after the visit of the Secretary General of Penitentiary Institutions, Ángel Luis Ortiz González, to mark the facility's 40th anniversary. An inmate lunged at a teacher conducting classes in one of the modules with the intention of assaulting her.
The teacher's quick response in activating the alarm, coupled with the intervention of prison officers and assistance from other inmates, successfully thwarted the attack. The assailant resisted forcefully during his restraint before being isolated, as reported by the Professional Association of Prison Officials (APFP).
“"It seems that until one of us is killed, nothing will be achieved."
The APFP has reiterated its concern over the insecurity faced by penitentiary workers, attributing it to staff shortages and a lack of specific training to handle extreme violence. The association insists on the need for legal recognition as agents of authority and calls for the provision of Taser guns to ensure the safety of both staff and inmates during high-risk interventions.
The El Acebuche penitentiary is currently experiencing severe overcrowding, housing 990 inmates (65 women and the rest men) against a real capacity of 600, resulting in a 150% occupancy rate, according to data from CCOO. This overcrowding is a key factor in the rise of conflicts and assaults on staff, with 11 assaults recorded in 2025.
“"The lack of staff means that the public penitentiary service is highly strained and less effective, with 372 public employees in the prison to cover all areas of this small city open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is totally insufficient, as we find ourselves with a ratio of one official for every three inmates, when the ratios recommended by the European Union are one for every 1.5."
CCOO has also highlighted the dramatic state of penitentiary healthcare, which impacts the fundamental right to health assistance for the inmate population, particularly severe due to the high incidence of psychiatric pathologies lacking necessary attention. The failure to address these health issues contributes to increased conflict.
Meanwhile, the Central Independent and Civil Servants Union (CSIF) Almería has called for increased surveillance in open modules and expressed concern over a 67% increase in prison conflicts over the past two years. Pepe Gallegos, head of CSIF in the El Acebuche Union Section, warned that opening a new module is not feasible without adequate staffing and reinforced surveillance, especially given the impending loss of approximately thirty personnel in the coming months.
