Ione Belarra, the General Secretary of Podemos, has expressed serious concerns regarding the police response to recent violent incidents in Torre Pacheco, which she labelled as a ‘serious case of far-right terrorism’. The incidents, involving attacks on a local elderly man and subsequent disturbances, have left the local Maghrebi community in fear, with reports suggesting they have felt unsafe to leave their homes for days.

Belarra visited Torre Pacheco to show solidarity with the affected community. During her visit, she highlighted how misinformation leads to the targeting of migrants, suggesting this kind of violence cannot be tolerated as it undermines democracy. In an interview with La Mañana de RNE, she stated the police intervention was markedly inadequate and described officers mingling with far-right groups as troubling.

In her interview, Belarra also criticized the government and the Ministry of the Interior for what she termed ‘inaction’ and a lack of preparedness against rising far-right elements. She voiced her frustration over the government’s approach, which she claimed is contradictory, given that they are supposed to curtail the activities of the extreme right.

Furthermore, Belarra confirmed that her party would pursue legal action against political figures associated with spreading hate speech, specifically targeting Santiago Abascal, Antelo, and their communication chief. She argued that their rhetoric contributes to an environment where racism is allowed to thrive, akin to a twenty-first-century Ku Klux Klan atmosphere in Torre Pacheco.