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Higrh – The quiet town of Torre Pacheco, located in southeastern Spain’s Murcia region, experienced two consecutive nights of violent clashes, specifically on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12, 2025. These disturbances resulted in five minor injuries and the arrest of one person. This violence erupted in the wake of an assault on an elderly man and was significantly exacerbated by inflammatory posts from far-right groups on social media.
The Spark of Violence: Assault on a Retiree and Escalating Tensions
The initial spark for these tense events ignited a few days after a 68-year-old retiree was assaulted in the street on Wednesday, July 9. The man told local media that he was attacked by three young men of North African origin. No suspects have been apprehended yet in connection with this assault, which was filmed and widely circulated on social media, sparking widespread public anger.
Following this incident, the town, with a population of approximately 36,000, witnessed less severe disturbances in the days after the assault. The situation then sharply escalated on Friday and Saturday nights.
Organized Riots and Heavy Police Presence
During Friday and Saturday nights, despite a heavy presence of police and the Civil Guard, groups armed with batons roamed the streets of Torre Pacheco searching for people of foreign origin, according to the regional newspaper “La Opinión de Murcia.” Videos widely circulated on social media showed men wearing clothes with far-right symbols throwing objects at migrants carrying Moroccan flags in the town center. The footage also documented burning garbage containers and barricades in the streets.
Pedro Ángel Roca Ternell, the Mayor of Torre Pacheco, told the public broadcaster RTVE that police officers successfully prevented a direct confrontation between the two groups. He noted that most of the participants in the riots came from other areas and were not original residents of the town.
Far-Right Incitement and Calls for Hatred
Far-right groups played a pivotal role in fueling these disturbances. Mariola Guevara, the Central Government Delegate in the Murcia region, confirmed that the violence erupted due to incendiary social media posts by these groups, which explicitly called for “hunting migrants.” Guevara indicated that authorities monitored these posts, which urged attacks on people of North African origin, specifically from a group calling itself “Expel Them Now.”
Guevara also condemned “hate speech” and “incitement to violence” as far-right groups moved into the town. For her part, Spanish Youth Minister Sira Rego, a member of the hard-left Sumar coalition, condemned the violence against migrants in a post on Bluesky, directly blaming the “far-right” for these disturbances.
Authorities’ Response and Calls for Calm
In response to the escalating violence, the Spanish government deployed additional Civil Guard officers to Torre Pacheco to prevent further unrest. Francisco Pulido, head of the Civil Guard in the Murcia region, is focusing on investigating potential hate crimes, in addition to efforts to disperse crowds and prevent further violence.
Spanish authorities issued repeated calls for calm on Sunday, July 13. Fernando López Miras, the conservative President of the Murcia regional government, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Torre Pacheco must return to normality. I understand the frustration, but nothing justifies violence.” Mayor Pedro Ángel Roca Ternell also urged residents to remain calm.
Migration Context and Social Challenges
These disturbances occur within the context of a growing debate over immigration issues in Spain. Local government data indicates that nearly a third of Torre Pacheco’s population is of foreign origin, which is double the average for Spain as a whole, according to “El Mundo” newspaper. The area surrounding the town, located in the Murcia region, also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as day laborers in the agricultural sector, a fundamental pillar of the regional economy.
Less than two weeks before these events, the Murcia government was forced to backtrack on a proposal to acquire housing for unaccompanied minor migrants, following threats from the far-right Vox party, whose support the ruling conservative Popular Party (PP) needs to pass laws.
These disturbances in Torre Pacheco are considered among the worst acts of violence in the country in recent decades, reminiscent of the events of 2000 when violent anti-immigration protests erupted in El Ejido, Almería, southern Spain, after three Spanish citizens were killed by Moroccan migrants.
Political Reactions to the Torre Pacheco Disturbances
The violent events in Torre Pacheco elicited widespread political reactions from various government levels and parties in Spain, primarily focusing on calls for de-escalation, condemnation of violence, and warnings against the hate speech fueled by the far-right.
Central Government and Regional Authorities’ Stances
Mariola Guevara, the Central Government Delegate in the Murcia region, was among the first officials to comment on the events. Guevara confirmed that the violence was fueled by inflammatory social media posts from far-right groups, which called for “hunting migrants.” She emphasized that authorities responded immediately upon detecting these posts, which began earlier than planned. Guevara also condemned “hate speech” and “incitement to violence” as far-right groups moved into the town, indicating that additional Civil Guard officers would be deployed to handle the violence and ensure security.
For his part, Fernando López Miras, the conservative President of the Murcia regional government, called for a return to calm and normality in Torre Pacheco. He wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account: “Torre Pacheco must return to normality. I understand the frustration, but nothing justifies violence.” He also affirmed that the assault on the elderly man “will not go unpunished,” emphasizing the need for those responsible for the violence to face legal consequences. López Miras called for strengthening security forces to ensure citizen safety and prevent a recurrence of what happened.
Reactions from Local Officials and Ministers
At the local level, Pedro Ángel Roca Ternell, the Mayor of Torre Pacheco, appealed to residents for calm and serenity. Roca affirmed that police officers successfully prevented a direct confrontation between the two warring groups, noting that the majority of those involved in the riots were not residents of the town. He also pointed out that the town had enjoyed good coexistence before these events.
Commenting on the events, Sira Rego, the Spanish Youth Minister and a member of the hard-left Sumar coalition, condemned the violence against migrants in a message on Bluesky, explicitly blaming the “far-right” for fueling these disturbances.
Impact on the General Political Landscape
These events highlight the escalating tensions in Spain regarding immigration issues and underscore the role played by the far-right in exploiting these tensions. It’s worth noting that the Murcia government, led by the conservative Popular Party (PP), was forced less than two weeks prior to backtrack on a proposal to acquire housing for unaccompanied minor migrants, following threats from the far-right Vox party, which the PP relies on to pass legislation. This situation illustrates the significant influence Vox holds in pressing on immigration-related policies.
Overall, the political reactions reflect a broad condemnation of violence and calls for calm, with a particular focus on the need to address hate speech that incites such confrontations. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the need to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.
Article Author: Layla Al-Sawi
Journalist and Translator
Voice of Spain Media Foundation
Contact: layla@spainalyom.com
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Torre Pacheco, Voice of Spain, Anti-migrant riots, Migrant hunt, Violence in Murcia City, Immigration conflict in Spain, Torre Pacheco town, Murcia region, Far-right inciting posts, “La Opinión de Murcia” newspaper, Pedro Ángel Roca Ternell (Mayor of Torre Pacheco), Mariola Guevara, Immigration issues in Spain, Disturbances in Torre Pacheco.
