Spanish police have arrested eight people involved in clashes between far-right groups and North African migrants in Torre Pacheco, a town in southeastern Spain. The violence, which occurred on Sunday night, saw dozens of youths throw objects at riot police and left one person injured.
The trouble began with an attack last week on a man who suffered injuries and is recovering at home. Authorities have arrested two foreigners suspected of involvement, while the main perpetrator remains on the loose. Six others, including five Spaniards and one North African migrant, were arrested for assault, public disorder, hate crimes, or damage to property.
The area hosts many migrants working as day laborers in agriculture, making up around a third of Torre Pacheco’s population of 40,000. Local officials and politicians are urging calm, with the mayor saying that confrontation only leads to fear and violence.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska attributed the violence to anti-immigration rhetoric from far-right groups, while Vox leader Santiago Abascal blamed the government’s migration policies. However, Spain has been open to immigration and its economic benefits, sparking debate on social media.
A North African migrant who lives in Torre Pacheco expressed his desire for peace: “We want peace. That’s what we want, we don’t want anything else.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/13/europe/spain-migrants-far-right-clashes-intl