Police seal off Congress areas after pepper spray incident injures woman

A strong pepper-spray odor was reported in a bathroom located in the corridor of the Congress building on Carrera de San Jerónimo, prompting police to seal off the restroom and the nearby cafeteria. The scent was deemed hazardous, and a woman who was in the bathroom suffered vomiting and was treated on site. The action comes shortly after a heated session in which President Francina Armengol removed PP deputy Ana Vázquez from the chamber for showing a pepper-spray can, which Vázquez claimed was empty.

Earlier, kitchen staff had also complained about the smell, leading to the broader lockdown of the affected areas. Police have begun reviewing all surveillance footage to clarify the source of the spray. The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the legislative body and raises security concerns for the institution.