Young men armed with clubs and bottles have for several nights in a row struck fear into Torre-Pacheco in the Spanish Murcia.
In pictures and videos, dozens of black-clad men, some in hoods and motorcycle helmets, are seen driving around the streets. In a video, they enter a kebab restaurant and destroy the interior with bats. Several people have been lightly injured.
”Will crush you”
The unrest broke out after a video of an assault this week began circulating on social media. In the clip, a 68-year-old Spanish pensioner is seen being assaulted by several people; according to the victim of North African origin. Shortly thereafter, right-wing extremist groups and individuals began urging attacks on migrants in Torre-Pacheco.
Hate messages directed at Moroccan families and other North African residents, many of whom have lived in Spain for several decades, have according to Spanish media fueled the violence and unrest.
If they find you alone, they will crush you, says 31-year-old Nabil, who is afraid to go home from work alone, to the Spanish El País.
Condemns the violence
The police have deployed extra resources to curb the unrest. Two men have been arrested for aiding and abetting the assault on the 68-year-old. Several more – both Spaniards and North Africans – have been arrested for assault and vandalism over the weekend.
Migration Minister Elma Saiz condemns the violence, which according to her is the consequence of hate propaganda and the conservative PP's, which became the largest party in the 2023 election, "flirting with the far right".
Spain is not a country where one hunts migrants, says Saiz according to El País.
