In a troubling surge of anti-immigrant sentiment, the leader of the far-right group Deport Them Now was arrested following violent riots in the Spanish town of Torre Pacheco, which has been home to a significant North African community.
Far-Right Group Leader Arrested Amid Anti-Immigrant Violence in Spain
Far-Right Group Leader Arrested Amid Anti-Immigrant Violence in Spain
Authorities apprehend the head of Deport Them Now after violent riots targeting immigrant businesses in Torre Pacheco.
The police in Spain have taken action against escalating anti-immigrant violence by apprehending the local head of the group, known only by his initials, C.L.F. The interior ministry confirmed that the arrest occurred on Monday, as this individual was accused of stirring unrest during four days of clashes between far-right demonstrators and police in the southeastern region of Murcia. This group has reportedly disseminated incendiary messages through the Telegram app, contributing to the riots that have marred the town.
Following the disturbances, which included rioters attacking businesses associated with Moroccan residents, authorities have ramped up security in anticipation of further violence. Riot police have been deployed in significant numbers to Torre Pacheco, with the situation remaining tense as the community grapples with the impact of such unrest. Throughout the nights of unrest, rioters have vandalized establishments serving immigrant populations, including restaurants and shops catering to Moroccan, Pakistani, Turkish, and Latin American communities. Many local residents have been forced to defend their homes and businesses from violence.
As a continuation of the ongoing investigation, police have also apprehended additional individuals, bringing the total to eleven, with most of these arrests linked to far-right groups migrating into the area. Prosecutors in Murcia are also scrutinizing a notable figure from another anti-immigrant political party, Vox, whose regional leader, José Ángel Antelo, is suspected of using hate speech which may have inflamed the situation.
This event stands out as one of the gravest instances of public violence in Spain. An ongoing liberal approach to immigration has, for years, allowed undocumented immigrants pathways to legal citizenship, a policy that has been met with rising opposition from far-right factions. Authorities remain vigilant as they seek to restore order and address the underlying tensions that prompted such outbursts.
Following the disturbances, which included rioters attacking businesses associated with Moroccan residents, authorities have ramped up security in anticipation of further violence. Riot police have been deployed in significant numbers to Torre Pacheco, with the situation remaining tense as the community grapples with the impact of such unrest. Throughout the nights of unrest, rioters have vandalized establishments serving immigrant populations, including restaurants and shops catering to Moroccan, Pakistani, Turkish, and Latin American communities. Many local residents have been forced to defend their homes and businesses from violence.
As a continuation of the ongoing investigation, police have also apprehended additional individuals, bringing the total to eleven, with most of these arrests linked to far-right groups migrating into the area. Prosecutors in Murcia are also scrutinizing a notable figure from another anti-immigrant political party, Vox, whose regional leader, José Ángel Antelo, is suspected of using hate speech which may have inflamed the situation.
This event stands out as one of the gravest instances of public violence in Spain. An ongoing liberal approach to immigration has, for years, allowed undocumented immigrants pathways to legal citizenship, a policy that has been met with rising opposition from far-right factions. Authorities remain vigilant as they seek to restore order and address the underlying tensions that prompted such outbursts.
