Ninety Years Later: The Infamous Curva de Gracia Tram Heist

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the tragic robbery of the tram at the Curva de Gracia, recalling an incident that unfolded at the dawn of the Civil War. The society of Tenerife in 1934 bore many similarities to that of the rest of the nation; there was notable tension and widespread hunger on the streets. A significant event was on the verge of occurring, and any sign of instability felt akin to a can of petrol left next to a roaring fire – a blaze ready to ignite. During the assault, displaying a scenario reminiscent of the wild west, tram driver Luis García-Panasco Toledo and student Agustín Bernal Cubas lost their lives, and inspector Manuel Cabrera sustained injuries. The ambush was orchestrated by five criminals who made off with 606.65 pesetas, translating to roughly 3.62 euros in 2024, and they subsequently served time in prisons across Tenerife, Las Palmas, Burgos, Cádiz, and Gijón. Yesterday, Isauro Abreu García-Panasco, a Santa Cruz resident and a relative of the two victims, reminded us of the significance of this anniversary, linked to an episode that left the local populace in shock. The incident took place late in the evening on 1 September 1934, when public transport units 15 and 13 were en route to the capital.