Un tema Al Día – "Las táser no son pistolas de juguete: la muerte de Haitam"

Podcast: Un tema al día (elDiario.es)
Host: Juanlu Sánchez
Date: March 24, 2026
Main Theme:
A critical examination of the use of Taser weapons by Spanish police, their regulation, and the tragic death of Haitam Mehri in Torremolinos after police intervention. The episode explores police protocols, transparency issues, and the broader debate on the risks and perceptions of Tasers as "non-lethal" weapons.

Episode Overview

The episode centers on the death of Haitam Mehri, a 35-year-old man who died after multiple Taser discharges by the National Police in Torremolinos, December 2025. Through interviews with journalists and experts, the episode investigates the events, the varied and opaque protocols guiding Taser use, the health risks, and ongoing transparency concerns regarding police accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Death of Haitam Mehri: A Timeline of Events

With: Néstor Cenizo (elDiario.es Andalucía journalist)

• Incident Details
  • Haitam Mehri, in Spain for over 20 years, entered a locutorio (call shop) in an agitated state, likely under the influence of substances, attempting to charge his phone.
  • According to Cenizo, Haitam was not robbing, but rather focused on charging his mobile to make a payment (03:15).
  • A misunderstanding and altercation with the shop owner led to a police call (04:07).
  • Upon arrival, police found Haitam restless but not threatening. He complied when asked to drop objects (two phones and child’s scissors) (04:11).
  • Tension increased when officers tried to handcuff him. Haitam attempted to pick up a dropped phone, at which point officers decided to subdue him with force (05:32).
  • He was subjected to 8-11 Taser discharges (the most conservative estimate being 8), mostly while already subdued and some after being handcuffed (06:25).
  • "Tres de los disparos ocurren cuando ya está completamente engrilletado de manos." – Néstor Cenizo (06:25).
  • After repeated shocks and restraint, his protests faded until he fell silent; police then called for an ambulance and attempted resuscitation (07:54).
  • When questioned, officers did not initially mention the use of the Taser to the arriving paramedics (08:03).

Notable Quotes and Moments

• "No quiero morir, ¿Vale? Voy a colaborar." – Haitam Mehri (01:27), as heard on police recordings.
• "En todo momento, pues él insiste en que va a colaborar... Está en un estado casi delirante, no se observa... ninguna amenaza..." – Néstor Cenizo (04:11)
• "Este tío está muerto." – Comentario de un agente tras la actuación (06:25).

Tasers in Spain: Expansion, Myths, and (Lack of) Debate

With: Ter García (Civio journalist, expert on transparency and police weapons)

• Why Tasers Appeal to Police
  • Marketed as "non-lethal" weapons, making them easier to deploy in a wider range of scenarios compared to guns (09:53).
  • Their appearance ("de colores," "parece como un juguete") and perceived safety may encourage overuse (17:55).
• Spread and Regulation
  • First adopted locally around 2004–2005, now increasingly common nationwide (09:53).
  • Analysis in 2023 showed 172 municipal or police contracts for Tasers.
  • Multiple, non-unified protocols exist: each police body (local, regional, national) sets its own, with contents often inaccessible to the public (11:24).
  • Protocols obtained via leaks, FOIA requests, or journalistic investigation, not official transparency (12:39).
  • National and regional guidelines differ: definitions of minors, restrictions on body areas to target, limits (if any) on number or duration of shocks (13:02).

Key Points About Protocol Inconsistencies

• "Para los Mossos de Escuadra un niño es una persona menor de 12 años. Para la Policía Nacional es menor de 14 años. Otros protocolos ni siquiera concretan la edad de un niño." – Ter García (13:02)
• Only two small-town protocols set maximum Taser uses per incident (two discharges). Most protocols have "no maximum" (13:02).
• Many protocols fail to specify prohibited target zones, and not all follow manufacturer guidance against chest, head, or genital shots (13:02).

Taser Risks in Vulnerable Scenarios

• Manufacturer recommendations and some protocols warn against use on individuals with mental crises or drug intoxication due to heightened health risks (15:08).
• However, some protocols paradoxically recommend Tasers precisely for such cases, supposedly to facilitate restraint (15:08).

The Transparency and Accountability Gap

• Lack of Public Data
  • Spain lacks a public register of deaths in police custody, let alone those specifically involving Tasers or other weapons (16:21).
  • No official reporting on the nature or context of deaths; UN recommends such transparency (16:21).
  • Internal reports may exist but are not published; calls for an official National Office of Human Rights to oversee and publish findings (16:21).
• Impact
  • After notable deaths (e.g., Badalona, Torremolinos), protocols have not changed; absence of official scrutiny prevents systemic improvements (16:21).
  • The perception of Tasers as "menos lesiva que una pistola" or even as "un arma de juguete" may increase their use and, consequently, risk (17:41).

Memorable Reflections

• "Me temo que sí, porque en España muertes por disparos de arma de fuego hay relativamente pocos... parece que el taser, además tan mono, tan parece como un juguete. Así que sí, yo creo que se está frivolizando su uso." – Ter García (17:55)
• "No hay un registro público oficial sobre muertes en actuaciones policiales o bajo justicia policial y qué armas han podido estar involucradas en esas muertes..." – Ter García (16:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:05] – Host’s introduction; case summary; first audio of Haitam pleading with police.
• [03:02] – Néstor Cenizo describes the events leading to police intervention.
• [04:11] – Inside the locutorio: Haitam's state, police response, absence of threat.
• [05:32] – The escalation, restraint, and first Taser discharges.
• [06:25] – Number and context of Taser shocks, including while handcuffed.
• [07:54] – Medical response and omission of Taser use from police explanation to medics.
• [08:48] – Technical explanation of Taser use/methods.
• [09:53] – Ter García on why Tasers expanded in Spain.
• [11:01] – Discussion of public debate and access to police protocols.
• [13:02] – Mosaic of different protocols; age definitions, discharge limits, body zone restrictions.
• [15:08] – Restrictions (or not) on Tasering people in crisis; misapplication vs. recommendations.
• [16:21] – The case for transparency: deaths, data, and reform.
• [17:41] – Societal perception: are we trivializing Tasers?
• [17:55] – Closing thoughts: on the risk of underestimating Taser dangers.

Conclusion

The episode highlights the disconnect between the perception of Tasers as low-risk tools ("de juguete") and their proven capacity to cause serious harm or death, especially against vulnerable individuals. It reveals a patchwork of secretive or inconsistent protocols, a lack of meaningful oversight or transparency, and the dangers of normalizing the use of "non-lethal" police weapons without responsible frameworks.

Final Quote (Ter García, 17:55):

"Yo creo que se está frivolizando su uso."

For listeners:
The episode is a foundational guide to understanding not only the Haitam Mehri case, but also the urgent policy questions surrounding police use of force in Spain today.

Produced by: Carmen Ibáñez, Marcos García Santonja, Lucía Martín, e Izascum Pérez
Mounting: Pedro Nogales
Host: Juanlu Sánchez