A leader of the ultra-nationalist group ‘Deport Them Now UE’ has been arrested in Mataró, Barcelona, by the Civil Guard. The twenty-nine year old, identified by the initials C.L.F., faces charges of hate incitement and is accused of directing the group responsible for promoting violence against immigrants in Torre Pacheco, Murcia. His arrest comes in response to a social media statement urging violence against immigrants in that locality.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that this arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into recent civil disturbances in Torre Pacheco, which have resulted in fourteen arrests so far. Heightened security measures have been implemented, with over one hundred law enforcement officers deployed to manage the situation. The Civil Guard is also working to close down their Telegram channel used for spreading hateful messages.

Experts on radical groups indicate that ‘Deport Them Now’ is a relatively new movement, emerging earlier this year. Public awareness of the group increased in May when members participated in a summit in Italy focused on ‘reemigration’. Their messaging has garnered attention due to links to extreme right political rhetoric in Spain and other European countries.

As investigations continue, the Civil Guard has also identified over one hundred twenty individuals connected to the unrest, many of whom arrived in organised groups from outside Murcia. The focus remains on understanding the factors leading to the violent incidents, particularly following the assault on a sixty-eight-year-old man, which involved three young men of North African descent.