In the aftermath of rising anti-migrant sentiments, fourteen individuals have been arrested in Torre Pacheco following an attack on a local pensioner.
Anti-Migrant Unrest Grips Southern Spain Amid Violence and Arrests
Anti-Migrant Unrest Grips Southern Spain Amid Violence and Arrests
Tensions escalate in Torre Pacheco as a pensioner's attack ignites far-right protests and violence against immigrants.
The town of Torre Pacheco, located in southern Spain, has witnessed escalating violence and unrest, leading to the arrest of 14 individuals. The situation came to a head after a pensioner, 68-year-old Domingo Tomás Domínguez, was attacked, allegedly by three suspects of North African origin. This incident, coupled with the rapid spread of a video on social media, triggered a wave of anti-migrant unrest among the town's population of approximately 40,000, which includes many immigrants.
As tensions flared, far-right groups such as "Deport Them Now" began calling for violence against immigrants, with armed groups seen roaming the streets. Despite the police's assertion that the viral video was unrelated to the attack, the call for vengeance gained traction, resulting in chaos over the weekend, with rioters clashing with police, vandalizing businesses, and provoking fear within the immigrant community.
Heightened police presence has been established in response, with over 130 officers from local and national forces deployed. The suspects arrested are reported to be Moroccans in their early twenties and were not residents of Torre Pacheco.
Religious leaders in the community urged for calm amid growing fears among residents of immigrant origin, many of whom contribute to the region's agricultural sector. The mayor of Torre Pacheco called for peace, advising immigrants to remain indoors and avoid confrontation. Meanwhile, the national government pointed to the increasing influence of far-right rhetoric as a spark for the violence.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the unrest, asserting the need for unity against hate and emphasizing Spain's commitment to being a nation founded on rights and not division. The escalating situation has ignited a larger discussion surrounding immigration policy and societal cohesion within Spain.
