Spain is reeling after a brutal attack on a 68-year-old pensioner by North African youths sparked public outrage and anti-immigrant riots in the southeastern town of Torre-Pacheco.
The far-right Vox party has been accused of fuelling the violence with calls to “deport them all,” and police reinforcements have been deployed to quell the unrest.
Violence Erupts in Torre-Pacheco
Protesters clashed with riot police on Sunday, and 10 people have been arrested after three nights of violence. Authorities said 80 people had been identified, “many of them with criminal records for violence.”
The country’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said more than 20 vehicles had been intercepted trying to enter the town, with some occupants carrying sticks and batons.
Main Suspect Arrested
A third suspect in the attack on Domingo Tomás, believed to be the main perpetrator, was arrested while planning to flee across the border to France by train.
Mr. Tomás told local media he was attacked while on his usual early morning walk at 5:30 am on Wednesday. He said he came across two young people of Maghrebi origin when a third ran and hit him with a stick, knocking him down before beating him again.
Far-Right Groups Accused of Spreading Misinformation
A photo of the elderly man’s badly bruised face and a purported video of the attack spread online, sparking public outrage. However, Mr. Tomás said the video purporting to show the attack was not him, sparking claims that far-right groups were spreading misinformation online.
The Moroccan Association for the Integration of Immigrants said in a statement that “threats, attacks, and fear in the streets must end,” demanding “real protection for the affected people.”
Tensions Erupt in Torre-Pacheco
Torrey Pacheco Mayor Pedro Angel Roca told Cadena SER that social media had inflamed clashes involving nonresidents that saw street equipment broken and car windows smashed.
Abdelali, a North African resident, told The Times he was now afraid of being attacked on the streets. “We want peace,” he said. “That’s what we want, we don’t want anything else.”
Politicians Blame Far-Right Groups
Politicians have accused the far-right of fuelling the violence. The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) on Monday announced that it had filed a hate crime complaint with the prosecutor’s office against José Ángel Antelo, the regional leader of Vox.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal has denied any responsibility for the violence and blamed the government’s immigration policies.