Seven juveniles remain under investigation over former Coviran fire

The police investigation into the fire at the former Coviran supermarket on Devil’s Tower Road remains ongoing, with all seven juveniles arrested in connection with the blaze still under investigation.

The Royal Gibraltar Police has confirmed to GBC that none of those arrested has been charged at this stage, and that no decision has been taken to end proceedings against any of them.

The fire broke out at the disused supermarket on a Sunday evening in February 2025. GBC reported at the time that 35 firefighters and officers were required to bring the blaze under control.

Seven juveniles were subsequently arrested on suspicion of arson, including an 11-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.

They were interviewed and bailed while enquiries continued.

More than a year and a half on, police say the cause of the fire remains inconclusive. In response to questions from GBC, the RGP says the significant damage to the building, together with safety risks at the scene, meant fire investigators were unable to accurately assess the area where the blaze began.

Other evidential methods have therefore had to be relied upon, with this work forming part of the continuing investigation.

At the time of the fire, questions were also raised over security at the abandoned building.

GBC established that the former Coviran operators had sold the site around two years earlier.

The developers told GBC they had erected tall hoarding around the site and said they would secure it again once it was no longer being treated as a crime scene and had been handed back by police.

So what is happening with the site now?

A source linked to the development has told GBC that work is progressing, with construction currently focused on the foundations. This will form the basement level of the development, including its car park.

The source says contractor Casais has erected new hoarding around the site. They also believe the earlier unauthorised access was through gaps in the previous perimeter at the rear of the site.