The National Police have evacuated for hours a busy promenade in Palma, in the area known as El Molinar, after a neighborhood resident alerted to the presence of something that appeared to be a bomb. The agents cordoned off the promenade to prevent damage before members of the Explosives Disposal Group arrived in the area.
The notice came after a neighbor in the area called the emergency services to report that she had found an artifact on the small beach in this popular area of Palma. The deactivation agents verified that it was a mortar, probably from the Civil War, that was slightly buried in the sand.
After cordoning off the walk, the agents removed the device and took it to a secluded place to avoid damage. The mortar was deactivated without problems and it is not known for now if it was buried years ago or if it had been washed away by the waves until it was half buried in the sand.
The activities of the police have aroused enormous curiosity among the residents of the area and the many people who come to this promenade by the sea. El Molinar is in the direction of the airport and has been a popular fishing district for years, before it caught on with foreign residents living in Palma. Now it is one of the most expensive neighborhoods due to its proximity to the sea and the structure of its houses, mostly one or two-story houses.
It is not uncommon for explosive devices from the Civil War to continue to be found on the Islands, despite the fact that no significant battles took place. Many parts of the Balearic coast still preserve a network of bunkers that were built at the time in anticipation of a landing attempt by sea.
One of these failed attempts was carried out in Manacor and some of the remains of the militiamen who participated are being discovered in mass graves in Majorca thanks to the Grave Law that is in force on the Islands. In this same grave, the body of the historic trade unionist Aurora Picornell appeared, retaliated against by the Franco regime.
