Clashes erupted in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, between local residents and migrants, predominantly of North African descent, following an attack on a seventy-year-old man. The violence has drawn the involvement of far-right groups across Spain, with protests focusing on anti-migrant sentiments being encouraged by parties such as Vox. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has voiced concern, asserting that organised groups are behind the unrest, which has resulted in nineteen arrests, including two individuals implicated in the attack on the elderly man.

Margarita Robles, the Minister of Defence, expressed her horror over the rhetoric calling for violence against migrants. She called for unity and condemned hate speech as destructive to Spanish values. Concurrently, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez remarked on social media that racism is incompatible with democracy, urging citizens to stand against hate and defend shared values.

In response, Vox‘s leader, Santiago Abascal, attempted to shift the blame onto the ruling parties for broader issues surrounding immigration, avoiding condemnation of the calls for violence. This led to backlash from other political parties, with allegations of inciting hatred against Vox’s statements regarding immigrant crime.

The situation continues to unfold, revealing deep divisions within Spanish society concerning immigration and public safety. Political responses highlight varying views on how to approach the rising tensions, as the nation grapples with the underlying issues fueling such unrest.