The riots in Torre Pacheco, sparked by a video related to an unlinked assault on a pensioner, have resulted in arrests and increased police presence as far-right groups incite violence against migrants in the community.
Tensions Escalate in Torre Pacheco: Anti-Migrant Riots Lead to Arrests
Tensions Escalate in Torre Pacheco: Anti-Migrant Riots Lead to Arrests
Fourteen individuals have been arrested following a wave of unrest in southern Spain triggered by an attack on a pensioner, fueling anti-immigrant sentiment.
The small town of Torre Pacheco in southern Spain has experienced significant unrest in recent days, leading to the arrest of 14 people. The chaos was ignited following an incident involving a 68-year-old pensioner, who was allegedly attacked by three young men of North African descent. After a video related to the attack circulated on social media, calls for vigilante justice rapidly gained momentum, resulting in escalating tensions in the town of approximately 40,000 residents, many of whom are immigrants.
By Friday, armed groups could be seen patrolling the streets, with the far-right faction "Deport Them Now" openly inciting violence against North African individuals. Although authorities and the victim clarified that the video did not pertain to the attack, inflammatory messages continued to spread on social platforms, urging further aggression against local immigrants.
Domingo Tomás Domínguez, the assaulted pensioner, recounted the attack to the media, describing how he was knocked to the ground and punched while on his morning walk. He noted that his assailants did not demand money or personal items, leaving police puzzled about their motivations. The three suspects arrested are all in their twenties and reportedly of Moroccan origin, none of whom are from Torre Pacheco.
In response to the violence, law enforcement has dispatched over 130 officers from local police and the Guardia Civil to restore order. The worst of the disturbances occurred over the weekend, with mob violence leading to damages at businesses and escalating confrontations between far-right groups and the local North African population.
Pedro Ángel Roca, the mayor of Torre Pacheco, urged the immigrant community to remain indoors and avoid confrontations with rioters. Many local immigrant residents have expressed feelings of insecurity due to the recent violence.
Participants in a far-right Telegram group attempted to rally others from across Spain to engage in what they called "hunts" targeting North Africans. The platform has since been deactivated.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska attributed the violence to rising anti-immigration rhetoric perpetuated by far-right parties like Vox. Vox's leader, Santiago Abascal, rebuffed accusations of inciting the unrest and blamed government policies for allowing individuals involved in the initial attack to enter Spain.
Meanwhile, the regional president of Vox, José Ángel Antelo, is under investigation for possible hate crimes after attributing responsibility for the violence to Spain's main political parties. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the ongoing violence, asserting that Spain must uphold its values of rights and inclusivity against a backdrop of escalating hatred. As the nation grapples with these tensions, the reliance on immigrants to drive local economies remains a focal point of discussion.
By Friday, armed groups could be seen patrolling the streets, with the far-right faction "Deport Them Now" openly inciting violence against North African individuals. Although authorities and the victim clarified that the video did not pertain to the attack, inflammatory messages continued to spread on social platforms, urging further aggression against local immigrants.
Domingo Tomás Domínguez, the assaulted pensioner, recounted the attack to the media, describing how he was knocked to the ground and punched while on his morning walk. He noted that his assailants did not demand money or personal items, leaving police puzzled about their motivations. The three suspects arrested are all in their twenties and reportedly of Moroccan origin, none of whom are from Torre Pacheco.
In response to the violence, law enforcement has dispatched over 130 officers from local police and the Guardia Civil to restore order. The worst of the disturbances occurred over the weekend, with mob violence leading to damages at businesses and escalating confrontations between far-right groups and the local North African population.
Pedro Ángel Roca, the mayor of Torre Pacheco, urged the immigrant community to remain indoors and avoid confrontations with rioters. Many local immigrant residents have expressed feelings of insecurity due to the recent violence.
Participants in a far-right Telegram group attempted to rally others from across Spain to engage in what they called "hunts" targeting North Africans. The platform has since been deactivated.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska attributed the violence to rising anti-immigration rhetoric perpetuated by far-right parties like Vox. Vox's leader, Santiago Abascal, rebuffed accusations of inciting the unrest and blamed government policies for allowing individuals involved in the initial attack to enter Spain.
Meanwhile, the regional president of Vox, José Ángel Antelo, is under investigation for possible hate crimes after attributing responsibility for the violence to Spain's main political parties. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the ongoing violence, asserting that Spain must uphold its values of rights and inclusivity against a backdrop of escalating hatred. As the nation grapples with these tensions, the reliance on immigrants to drive local economies remains a focal point of discussion.
