Tensions escalate in Torre Pacheco, Spain, after a pensioner is attacked, leading to widespread anti-migrant riots. Fourteen arrests have been made amid increased police presence and calls for violence from far-right groups.
Anti-Migrant Unrest Erupts in Southern Spain Following Pensioner Attack
Anti-Migrant Unrest Erupts in Southern Spain Following Pensioner Attack
Riots in Torre Pacheco lead to 14 arrests as violent anti-migrant demonstrations unfold in response to a pensioner's assault.
The town of Torre Pacheco, located in southern Spain, has recently become the epicenter of anti-migrant riots following the assault of a 68-year-old pensioner. In total, 14 individuals have been arrested, and an increased police presence has been implemented as violence continues to surge in the community.
The unrest was ignited by a video that spread rapidly on social media, depicting an attack that was later deemed unrelated to the victim, identified as Domingo Tomás Domínguez. In response to the video, calls for vigilantism against individuals of North African origin quickly escalated, leading to public unrest in the town of approximately 40,000 residents, known for its significant immigrant population.
Three suspects, all of Moroccan descent and in their early twenties, have been apprehended for the initial attack on Mr. Domínguez, but none are residents of Torre Pacheco. One suspect was intercepted en route to France from the Basque region. The motive behind the attack remains uncertain, as the victim claims he was not robbed, nor did he understand the language spoken by his aggressors. A disturbing image shared online displayed Mr. Domínguez with severe facial bruising.
As tensions mounted, groups of young individuals took to the streets, some masked and armed with batons, engaging in violence and vandalism against local businesses, including an incident at a kebab shop witnessed by journalists. The mayor of Torre Pacheco, Pedro Ángel Roca, urged the migrant community to stay indoors and refrain from confronting the rioters.
The unrest has raised concerns among long-standing residents with migrant backgrounds, many of whom are employed in the thriving agricultural sector. The mayor expressed that these individuals have contributed to Torre Pacheco for over 20 years, and now fear for their safety.
Reports surfaced that a far-right Telegram group incited members to travel from different regions of Spain for organized "hunts" of North African individuals. Following these activities, the channel was swiftly taken down.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska linked the violence to inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric voiced by far-right factions, including the third-largest political party, Vox. Party leader Santiago Abascal, however, distanced himself from the riots, attributing the chaos to extensive immigration policies that allow perpetrators to enter the country.
Heightened tensions have led to an investigation for hate crimes against José Ángel Antelo, the regional head of Vox, who previously criticized the nation’s two primary parties for enabling the violence. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the incidents, stating that Spain is fundamentally a country of rights, not hate, and that collective action is necessary to address such challenges.
