173 arrests at Aste Nagusia in Bilbao: thefts and sexual offences mark the festivals
Local Police and Ertzaintza recorded 173 arrests over the eight days of Aste Nagusia, eight more than in 2025. Proceedings were initiated for 1,006 criminal offences.
173 arrests at Aste Nagusia: thefts and sexual offences centre police assessment in Bilbao
According to Google News ES — Crime, Local Police and Ertzaintza detained a total of 173 people during the eight days of Aste Nagusia in Bilbao, a figure that exceeds arrests recorded in the 2025 edition by eight. Both forces operated within the special security operation designed by the City Council to reinforce police presence during the festivals.
The City Council disseminated precise figures via a press release issued hours after Mayor Juan Mari Aburto provided an initial assessment at La Bilbaína. In his statement, Aburto indicated that since the opening Saturday of the festivals, 243 people had been detained or investigated, compared with 228 the previous year. The daily reports provided by the Council to the media — which only recorded the actions of the municipal police — showed up to the eve a total of 104 arrests.
Regarding offences, the two forces initiated proceedings for 1,006 incidents, compared with 1,060 the previous year. Approximately 70 per cent corresponded to thefts of mobile phones and wallets. Robberies with intimidation fell from 77 recorded in 2025 to 71 in this 2026.
Eleven offences against sexual freedom were recorded, the "vast majority due to touching". The City Council stated that "practically all persons responsible for this type of offence have been identified, detained and brought before the courts".
In the area of road safety, 61 traffic accidents were recorded, of which eight caused injuries of "minor significance". Four hit-and-runs were also reported and 49 collisions with material damage. The security forces carried out 549 breathalyser tests — nine positive — and 80 drug controls, with seven people fined.
Aburto emphasised that the police deployment was present "throughout the city" and especially in the main festival areas — the Arenal, the Old Town and Abandoibarra — which, in his words, made it possible to "enhance prevention work, preventing potential serious incidents".
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)