Several hurt in anti-migrant unrest in Spanish town
The regional government did not say how many people were injured but stated that at least one person had been arrested for the violence.
The unrest erupted after a 68-year-old man told Spanish media he was beaten up in the street on Wednesday by three youths of North African origin.
The attack was filmed and put on social media.
The town hall organised a demonstration on Friday that was intended to be peaceful but where far-right elements shouted anti-migrant slogans.
One group, named "Deport Them Now", posted a message on social media calling for attacks against people of North African origin.
Spanish authorities launched an appeal for calm on Sunday in the town of 36,000 people.
"Torre Pacheco must get back to normal," said the head of the Murcian regional government Fernando López Miras in a message on X.
"I understand the frustration but nothing justifies violence," added the conservative politician.
"I call on residents to be calm, for tranquility," said Torre Pacheco mayor, Pedro Ángel Roca Torne, on RTVE public television.
Spain's Youth Minister Sira Rego, a member of the extreme left wing party Sumar, condemned the violence against migrants in a message on Bluesky, blaming the role of the "ultra-right" in the unrest.
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Local Spain
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- Local Spain
Spain arrests eight after anti-migrant unrest
Three nights of violence erupted on Friday after a 68-year-old man told local media three youths of North African origin had beaten him up in the street. The southeastern town's mayor Pedro Angel Roca told Cadena SER radio that social media had created a "breeding ground" for clashes that saw urban furniture broken and car windows smashed. Roca denounced "groups coming trying to create violence", while Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Cadena SER that law enforcement had intercepted various vehicles trying to enter the town with "dangerous items" such as sticks. A far-right group named "Deport Them Now" had posted a message online calling for attacks against people of North African origin. The authorities have arrested eight people, including two present during the attack on the elderly man whose role is being investigated, Marlaska said. The other six detainees, five Spaniards and one North African, were held for assault, damage and altercations, the central government's representative in the Murcia region, Mariola Guevara Cava, wrote on X. The Civil Guard has deployed 90 officers to quell the unrest and more would be sent "until this concludes", Marlaska said. 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". The mayor told state television channel TVE that 30 percent of the town's inhabitants were immigrants, mainly of Moroccan origin, the vast majority of whom were employed in seasonal farm work. "These are people who have been living in the town for more than 20 years", he said. Moroccans are the most common nationality among Spain's foreign population, numbering more than 920,000 according to the latest official figures.
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Why Spain needs millions more migrants, not less
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Local Spain
2 days ago
- Local Spain
Several hurt in anti-migrant unrest in Spanish town
Despite a major police presence, groups armed with batons roamed the streets looking for foreign-origin people, regional newspaper La Opinion de Murcia reported. The regional government did not say how many people were injured but stated that at least one person had been arrested for the violence. The unrest erupted after a 68-year-old man told Spanish media he was beaten up in the street on Wednesday by three youths of North African origin. The attack was filmed and put on social media. The town hall organised a demonstration on Friday that was intended to be peaceful but where far-right elements shouted anti-migrant slogans. One group, named "Deport Them Now", posted a message on social media calling for attacks against people of North African origin. Spanish authorities launched an appeal for calm on Sunday in the town of 36,000 people. "Torre Pacheco must get back to normal," said the head of the Murcian regional government Fernando López Miras in a message on X. "I understand the frustration but nothing justifies violence," added the conservative politician. "I call on residents to be calm, for tranquility," said Torre Pacheco mayor, Pedro Ángel Roca Torne, on RTVE public television. Spain's Youth Minister Sira Rego, a member of the extreme left wing party Sumar, condemned the violence against migrants in a message on Bluesky, blaming the role of the "ultra-right" in the unrest.
