The gas cylinder was safely recovered by police (Picture: Somos Madrid)

A man has been arrested after threatening to detonate butane gas cylinders in one of Madrid’s most popular and busiest streets.

The unnamed man,31,barricaded himself on the third floor of a flat block between Calle Montera and Gran Vía.

He entered 42 Montera Street and told a resident he was going to kill everyone living there before locking himself in a flat at around 4.20pm.

The man then leaned out of the balcony and began throwing things,including a butane gas cylinder,at the officers standing outside.

He then shouted that he was going to detonate a gas cylinder. As he began to switch on his lighter,officers realised the door to the flat was ajar,so they stormed him and subdued him.

He was arrested for public disorder at around 6.20pm.

#ULTIMAHORA Una persona amenaza con hacer explotar dos bombonas de butano en la Calle Montera muy cerca de la Gran Vía en Madrid.Policía y bomberos acordonan la zona.Se desconoce el originen de esta persona. pic.twitter.com/pXpEwbj55z

— ㅤ (@l_miguel_angel) September 15,2025

Police said the man was injured during the incident and is being treated at a local hospital. His condition is unknown.

A waiter at La Española,a bar just below the balcony,told EL PAÍS that similar incidents to today’s have happened before.

He said he has seen police engage with the same man in the building before,adding: ‘It’s quite tedious working like this,even more so with customers. The gas can fall on anyone’s head.’

The local Metro station was briefly closed but reopened at 6.15pm,while a McDonald’s next to the flat block has also been reopened.

Traffic on the Gran Vía was not affected by the incident.

Butane gas is often used for indoor heaters and portable cookers.