Unrest Erupts in Torre Pacheco as Anti-Migrant Riots Lead to 14 Arrests

Following an attack on a 68-year-old man, Torre Pacheco has experienced escalating unrest, leading to the arrest of 14 individuals and a significant police presence. The violence, fueled by social media and far-right rhetoric, highlights rising anti-immigrant sentiments in the area.

Torre Pacheco, a town in southern Spain, has descended into unrest after an attack on a pensioner triggered a series of anti-migrant riots, resulting in the arrest of 14 individuals. The incident, which occurred last Wednesday, involved an elderly man named Domingo Tomás Domínguez, who was assaulted by three individuals of North African descent. Although local authorities asserted that a video circulating online had no connection to the attack, it sparked outrage in the town, which has a sizeable immigrant population of around 40,000 residents.

In the aftermath, tensions escalated as groups began to patrol the streets armed with makeshift weapons, calling for violence against individuals of North African origin. One extremist group, "Deport Them Now," incited further hostility, leading to chaotic confrontations over the weekend. Clashes erupted between far-right factions and residents of North African background, with rioters vandalizing properties and engaging in physical altercations with police.

In response to the growing unrest, both local police and the Guardia Civil ramped up security measures, with over 130 officers deployed to restore order. The suspects arrested in connection to the initial attack are aged in their early twenties and are not local residents. One suspect was apprehended while attempting to flee to France.

The mayor of Torre Pacheco, Pedro Ángel Roca, has urged the migrant community to remain indoors and avoid confrontations with rioters. Many immigrants in the area contribute significantly to the agricultural workforce, yet they now feel increasingly unsafe amid rising xenophobia.

Contributing to the alarming environment, a far-right Telegram group had previously disseminated calls for coordinated actions against immigrants, which has since been taken down. The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, attributed the unrest to the anti-immigration discourse propagated by right-wing factions, including the Vox party, a growing political force in Spain. Vox's leader, Santiago Abascal, has denied any association with the riots while criticizing immigration policies in the country.

As community and religious leaders appeal for calm, the Spanish government faces mounting pressure to address the underlying tensions and fight against the escalating waves of violence and hate. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized the need for unity and respect for rights, condemning the prevailing culture of hate evident in Torre Pacheco's recent disturbances.