A Spanish police officer was killed, and another lost his leg on Tuesday after a backpack bomb exploded following a shooting.

The officers had been deployed to a property in the northern town of Oviedo following reports of a shooting in which a 17-year-old girl was seriously wounded. 

Police and members of the bomb disposal unit arrived at the scene, where they located a backpack outside the entrance of the building containing an explosive device allegedly left behind by the shooter. 

While officers were handling the device, the explosive detonated, killing a man named locally as Juan Jose, who was part of the Special Canine Unit.

The injured officer, meanwhile, was part of the bomb disposal unit. He remained in a very serious condition after losing a leg.

The teenager injured in the shooting remains in hospital but is no longer in a critical condition. 

Police said they were still trying to locate the perpetrator, who allegedly has a long criminal record, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reports, but authorities have ruled out a terror motive. 

Spain’s National Police have expressed their condolences to Juan Jose, writing in a statement: ‘Our hearts go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones.’

They added that they wished the injured officer a ‘speedy recovery.’ 

This is a breaking news story, more to follow.