GUATEMALA CITY — 1980 · Major Tragedy

The Spanish Embassy Fire

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 31 January 1980, K'iche' and Ixil Indigenous peasants protesting the abduction and killing of villagers in Quiché occupied the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala City together with workers and students. Despite the ambassador's objections, police stormed the building, and a fire in the ambassador's office killed 37 people. Among the dead were a former vice-president, a former foreign minister, the Spanish consul and Vicente Menchú, father of Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchú. The sole surviving protester was abducted from hospital the next day and killed. Spain broke off diplomatic relations. Truth commissions rejected the government's claim that the protesters were responsible for the fire. In 2015 the then head of the special police unit was convicted of crimes against humanity.

Date: 1980
Place: Zone 9, Guatemala, Guatemala City, GT
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: 14.6010, -90.5150 ↗

Timeline of Events

31 January 1980Protesters occupied the embassy; 37 died in the fire after a police raid.
1 February 1980The only surviving protester was abducted from hospital and killed.
1980Spain broke off diplomatic relations with Guatemala.

1999Rigoberta Menchú filed a criminal complaint in Spain.
20 January 2015The former police chief was sentenced to 40 years for crimes against humanity.

Sources

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