Calls for calm after anti-immigrant riots in torre pacheco

Tuesday 15 July 2025 - 17:02

In the wake of two consecutive nights of anti-immigrant riots in Torre Pacheco, a town near Murcia in southeastern Spain, local authorities have urged residents to remain calm. The violence erupted following the brutal assault of a 68-year-old retiree, Domingo, allegedly by three young men of North African descent. The assailants, who remain at large, have sparked a wave of protests and civil unrest in the area.

Fernando Lopez Miras, the conservative president of the Murcia region, took to social media on Sunday to call for a return to normalcy. “Torre Pacheco must return to normal... I understand the frustration, but nothing justifies violence,” he stated, emphasizing that the assault on Domingo would not go unpunished.

Pedro Angel Roca Ternel, the mayor of Torre Pacheco, also a member of the conservative People’s Party (PP), echoed these sentiments on public television. He stressed the importance of not confusing “criminals” with the entire immigrant population, who come to Spain “to work,” not to create unrest.

Despite the calls for calm, the violence continued into the night of Saturday to Sunday. Several groups of people roamed the streets, armed with sticks, searching for individuals of foreign origin, despite the presence of a significant police force. At least one person has been arrested, according to the regional authorities.

These riots were sparked by the violent street attack on Domingo, which occurred early on Wednesday morning. Domingo, who was left bruised and battered from the assault, recounted to Spanish media that he was attacked without any apparent reason by three young men of North African descent.

In response to the attack, the local municipality organized a peaceful rally on Friday afternoon. However, the event took a violent turn when extremist groups associated with the far-right joined the protest, chanting anti-immigrant slogans. One of the groups, identified as “Deport them now,” called for a “hunt” of North African individuals living in the town, further inflaming the situation.

In a post on the social media platform Bluesky, Sira Rego, the Minister of Youth and a member of the far-left Sumar party, condemned the “racist persecution of migrants in Torre Pacheco.” She also blamed the far-right for its role in inciting the violence and unrest.

The tragic incident has ignited debates over immigration, social integration, and the role of extremist groups in fomenting division within Spanish society. Authorities are working to address the tensions while ensuring that the perpetrators of the assault are brought to justice.