Violent clashes erupted in a town in southeastern Spain between group groups of far-right activists and North Africans late on Saturday. The violence was one of the worst such episodes in the country in recent decades and comes in the wake of an attack on an elderly man earlier this week.
The pensioner was set upon while walking in a street in the town of Torre-Pacheco by unknown assailants. He received a number of injuries and is reported to be recovering from his terrifying ordeal at home. The reasons for the attack are still unclear and police have so far made no arrests in connection with the assault. Five people were hurt and one was arrested during the unrest in the town on Saturday, according to local officials.
The town was quieter on Sunday, but government sources said more arrests were expected.
Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other. Another clip shows a man being wrestled to the ground and being beaten by a person wearing a white t-shirt.
The outbreak of violence followed several days of simmering tensions and low-level unrest. Mariola Guevara – the central government’s representative in the area – told Spanish public TV the attack was being investigated.
She denounced “hate speech” and “incitement to violence,” as far-right groups moved into the town.
The official also promised that more Guardia Civil officers would be sent to the town to bring the violence under control.
Local government data shows that almost one third of Torre-Pacheco’s population is of foreign origin.
Many migrants also work as day labourers in agriculture in areas surrounding the town, which is located in the Murcia region.
Murcia’s government recently had to backtrack on a proposal to buy housing to accommodate unaccompanied migrant minors, following protests from the far-right Vox party.