Bilbao Municipal Police arrest nine people during first day of Aste Nagusia festival

Overview of opening day detentions

Bilbao Municipal Police arrested nine individuals during the opening stage of the Semana Grande festival, also known locally as Aste Nagusia. According to municipal sources, the police interventions took place across a 15-hour operational period running from 16:00 on Saturday, 22 August 2026, to 07:00 on the morning of Sunday, 23 August 2026. The reported offenses were divided between designated festival grounds and broader urban sectors across the city.

Offenses within the festival perimeter

Officers executed four arrests directly within the official festival perimeter. Among these cases, authorities recorded two separate sexual offenses categorized as unwanted touching. One incident occurred in the txosnas area of El Arenal, while the second occurred at the nearby Euskotren railway station. Law enforcement officers identified and detained both alleged perpetrators at the respective scenes.

In addition to the sexual offense cases, officers detained one individual inside the fairgrounds on charges related to assault causing physical injuries. Another arrest within the festival perimeter involved the theft of a mobile phone, with responding officers recovering the stolen device.

Arrests across broader municipal zones

Beyond the designated festival boundaries, the municipal police made five additional arrests in other parts of the city during the same operational timeframe. These detentions involved offenses distributed across three primary legal categories. Three individuals were taken into custody on robbery allegations.

Officers in these surrounding urban zones also arrested one person on suspicion of gender-based violence and conducted one further arrest related to theft. Municipal reports indicated that the operations formed part of the security framework established for the start of the week-long festivities.