Cárcel Modelo massacre
In the Cárcel Modelo massacre, at the outset of the Spanish Civil War, a group of anarchist militiamen occupied the Madrid prison on August 22, 1936, and killed about 30 politicians and soldiers held there. Following rumors that the prisoners—suspected political and military supporters of the 1936 military uprising—were escaping, an angry throng assembled at the prison's gates and demanded the execution of the "fascists". A group of anarchist militiamen took control of the prison and that night executed well-known politicians and soldiers. The reputation of the republican government faltered from its inability to quell the crowd and protect the prisoners. The incident sparked protests from the diplomatic corps in Madrid.