Spain: 5 hurt in anti-migrant violence blamed on far right – DW – 07/13/2025
An outbreak of violence between migrants and residents in a southeastern Spanish town was fueled by social media posts from far-right groups, an official fromSpain's government said Sunday.
Five people suffered minor injuries during Saturday night's disturbance and one person was arrested.
Mariola Guevara, a central government delegate in the Murcia region, said officials responded after detecting posts that had incited a planned "hunt for migrants," which had begun earlier than planned.
Groups armed with batons roamed the streets of the sleepy town of Torre Pacheco, near Murcia, late Saturday for a second night, days after an attack on an elderly man by unknown assailants.
Despite a major police presence, regional newspaper reported that groups were looking for foreign-origin people.
Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in the center of the 40,000 population town.
The footage also showed rubbish containers and barricades in flames.
Police officers managed to prevent a confrontation between the two groups, Mayor Pedro Ángel Roca said.
Roca said most of the people taking part in the riots had come from other areas.
The clashes followed several days of lower-intensity unrest in the town following the beating of a pensioner on Wednesday.
The 68-year-old man is recovering at home from his injuries and told local media he was attacked by three youths from North Africa. The attack was filmed and put on social media.
The reasons behind the assault are unclear and no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Francisco Pulido, head of the Guardia Civil in the Murcia region, said he had deployed units to disperse the crowd and prevent further violence.
Pulido said authorities were also focused on investigating possible hate crimes.
Threats directed at Moroccan families living in Torre-Pacheco have been circulating on social media for days, according to the daily .
Spanish authorities launched an appeal for calm on Sunday, with Fernando Lopez Miras, the head of the Murcia government, writing on X that "Torre Pacheco must get back to normal."
"I understand the frustration, but nothing justifies violence," the conservative politician added.
Migrants make up about 30% of the population in the town, about twice the average in Spain, according to newspaper.
The area around the town also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as farm laborers.
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Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Disinformation Catalyses Anti-migrant Unrest In Spain
The rare anti-migrant violence that recently rocked a Spanish town demonstrated how online disinformation feeds xenophobic hate speech, which leapt from screens to real life with the support of politicians, experts said. Last weekend's unrest in the southeastern town of Torre Pacheco pitted far-right groups against immigrant residents, mainly of Moroccan origin, but a heavy police presence prevented serious confrontations. The altercations were sparked after a 68-year-old pensioner said three men of North African origin attacked him without provocation on July 9. Two days later, the conservative-led city council organised a protest against insecurity, which quickly escalated when far-right groups joined with hostile slogans against immigrants. That day, and for several nights, riots broke out in the streets of the southeastern city of 40,000. Authorities have arrested 14 people, including three suspected of involvement in the attack on the retiree. Also among those detained is the leader of the far-right "Deport Them Now" group, who allegedly called for a "hunt" of migrants on social media. The sudden outbreak of violence took Spain by surprise but anti-migrant discourse had already been brewing, partly due to disinformation circulating on social media. AFP's digital verification team in Spain has debunked many false claims linked to immigrants, mostly concerning public benefits they supposedly receive and alleged attacks by foreigners on Spanish customs. For Alexandre Lopez Borrull, a professor in communication and information science at the Open University of Catalonia, disinformation in such cases is "the fuel and the spark at the same time". The narrative "is fuelled over a long period of time" and when a specific event occurs, it can act as a spark in scenarios like the one that played out in Torre Pacheco, he said. A video purporting to show the assault on the pensioner, along with a list of alleged attackers, quickly circulated online -- both debunked by AFP. Elisa Brey, a sociology professor at Madrid's Complutense University, likened the phenomenon to criminals setting off wildfires. "It's hot, there's a temperature alert, and an arsonist passes by and throws a match. That is what happens with disinformation," she said. Experts also emphasised the role of politicians, particularly the far-right Vox party, in fanning the flames of anti-migrant rhetoric. Vox has long connected immigration to crime and recently proposed, echoing other EU political parties and far-right activists, that some migrants be deported as part of a broad "remigration" plan. Foreigners make up 14 percent of Spain's population, up from only 1.6 percent in 1998. In events like the violent protests in Torre Pacheco, malicious discourse seeps through different layers of social media before erupting into the public sphere, Brey explained. First, it simmers at an "underlying" level on less visible platforms like Telegram, before jumping to more popular networks such as X and TikTok. Politicians then amplify the message through public statements, she said. Vox's leader in the southeastern Murcia region, which includes Torre Pacheco, blamed the unrest on "illegal immigration", claiming that migrants had assaulted the elderly and committed sexual violence against women. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into his comments to determine if they constitute a hate crime. Social media was used in a way that, "in the end, it led to these events", added Marcelino Madrigal, an expert in online platforms and cybersecurity. Madrigal also detected that parties were shifting their position on immigration with an eye on political gain at a time of speculation about early elections in Spain. "With disinformation about immigration, the aim is to destabilise a government or a country as well as present yourself as an alternative to save us from a problem that does not exist," he said.
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Fact check: Misinformation fuels anti-migrant riots in Spain – DW – 07/18/2025
The assault of an elderly man in the town of Torre Pacheco sparked outrage and racist riots for several nights. False claims and misleading videos spread online soon after — and exacerbated the tensions. Several days of unrest in the town of Torre Pacheco, near Murcia, have highlighted rising tensions over migration in Spain. Sixty-eight-year-old pensioner Domingo Tomas Martinez had said he was beaten up by migrants on July 9. The motive of the attack was not immediately clear. But it was followed by several nights of riots and violent protests . Far-right groups posted xenophobic messages on social media, calling for people to "hunt down"migrants. This further escalated tensions. Torre Pacheco is a coastal Spanish town of nearly 40,000 people, and a third of its populationconsists of migrants, according to local government data. Police claim that by now peace has been largely restored in the city after the attack. But this is another example of how misinformation can ignite emotions. A video showing an elderly man being assaulted by unidentified persons heightened tensions. The video was widely shared on different social media platforms, it appeared for instance on Facebookand X. Claim: This X postwith the video, from July 10, states: "A video has been leaked of a brutal attack on an elderly man by North Africans in Torre-Pacheco, Murcia." The post comes from a user with a gold checkmark on their X account, indicating that the account belongs to an official organization through verified organizations. Other accounts also shared the video claiming it showed the attack on Martinez. DW Fact Check: False The video is not from Torre Pacheco. It is related to an incident that took place nearly two months ago and was filmed in the city of Almeria, more than 200 kilometers away. The person seen in the video is Jose Moya. After the video went viral in July, Moya posted his statementon Instagram clarifying that the person seen in the viral video is, in fact, him. Local media outlets interviewedhim after the viral video sparked social media outrage against migrants. Moya also showed the T-shirt and trousers on Instagram that he wore on the day of the attack. Calling for justice, he said, "The one in the video is me. I'm having a hard time making this video because I'm so nervous. But they are getting confused. And what I want to say is that I ask for justice for everything they have done to me and for the old man. The old man is a man from Murcia, and I am from Almeria. I was the one who was beaten." He explained that two people attacked him while more were present. He said they asked him for tobacco, and when he replied that he didn't have any, "They got into a fight with me (…). They cut my head open, broke three ribs, and left me there unconscious." He claimed the attackers were Spanish, and not migrants. DW Fact Check could confirm the scene in the video was filmed in Almeria, as claimed by Jose Moya in his Instagram post. He also showed a picture of the location taken after the incident, which is included in his video statement. We geo-located it near the Centro Periferico de Especialidades (Bola Azul) hospital. The footage matches details such as a row of trees, graffiti, and similar ground. Domingo Tomas Martinez, the man beaten up in Torre Pacheco, has also confirmed that he is not in the video that went viral. He spoke to severalmedia outletsfollowing the incident, where he appeared with red eyes and other marks of assault. Similar misleading posts emerged following the case in Murcia, many targeting migrants and Muslims. Here are two examples: Claim: This poston X claims that Torre Pacheco's local police were attacked by migrants and that the Civil Guard did not intervene: "The Torre Pacheco Local Police, overwhelmed by the mob of broccoli-haired people." DW Fact Check: False This incident took place in Torrevieja, about 40 kilometers from Torre Pacheco. Police officers were attacked by several individuals of migrant background there, reported multiple local media outlets. DW verified and identified the locationof the video. Claim: Another postclaimed a "ham protest" was organized to respond to the Torre Pacheco incident. The caption reads, "Torre Pacheco wakes up early. The residents are organizing for the final counter attack." DW fact check: False This video is unrelated. It was first postedin November 2024 on X by a user saying it was an attempt to set a world record for the largest plate of ham. The video was filmed in Huelva and has been viewed more than 2.4 million times since then. Misinformation isn't just a harmless mistake: It can spark violence, fuel hatred, and put lives at risk, as seen in Torre Pacheco: False claims on social media led to further escalations and deep divisions in the community. Before sharing a post, pause and verify the facts. A single misleading video can ignite real world chaos. Check sources, consult fact-checks, and think critically. Stopping the spread of misinformation starts with each one of us. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
7 days ago
- DW
Can debt-laden NATO members spend billions more on defense? – DW – 07/14/2025
NATO members recently agreed to increase defense spending to 5% by 2035 — a "quantum leap," according to the military alliance's chief, Mark Rutte. But can its indebted members really afford the hike? The NATO summit at the end of June left Donald Trump happy. The US President called it "tremendous" that the military alliance's 32 members had agreed to ramp up defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. He has been pressuring them to do so for years. However, he reserved his customary ire for one member: Spain. After vocal opposition from the country's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish government found a way out of the 5% commitment by claiming it could meet its defense obligations by spending much less. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Trump said the decision was "very terrible" and that they would be made "pay twice as much." Sanchez argued the 5% target — which is broken down into 3.5% on defence and 1.5% on defense-related infrastructure — was unreasonable and that diverting public spending in such a way could damage the economy. In the end, Spain secured an agreement with NATO that granted it an effective opt-out. That has raised questions about the extent to which many member nations will ultimately be able to afford the spending pledges they have made. "The choice to ringfence and prioritize defense amidst public spending cuts is politically challenging and will need strong public messaging to be accepted by the electorate and indeed across governments in office," Fenella McGerty, senior fellow for defense economics at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), told DW. She points out that when Spain previously signaled a hike in defense spending in April, Sanchez was keen to emphasize that it would not add to the country's debt pile or impact social spending. Ilke Toygür, director of the global policy center at Madrid's IE University, thinks Spain's position was partly about having an "open conversation" on the fact that prioritizing defense spending would impact other key areas of national budgets and could lead to a damaging backlash. "If there is no understanding about the importance of the fight against climate change or on other social issues, for example, housing or support for health or education, then this [defense spending hike] will create the contrary effect that European leaders are trying to get," she told DW. At the end of the day, what Europe really needs is a "sustained defense investment that will make the continent more secure," she said, adding that a "sustained public backlash could create the opposite effect." NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has hailed the 5% increase as a "quantum leap" and said it "laid the foundations for a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO." McGerty believes the 2035 pledge is a "significant commitment," particularly if European members manage to "increase core defense spending to 3.5% of GDP" — up from the current average of 2%. The NATO agreement specifies that 3.5% of GDP should "resource core defense requirements" and meet so-called NATO capability targets — a list of specific defense-preparedness goals, from air defense to land maneuvers. According to NATO, the extra 1.5% of spending will, among other things, "protect critical infrastructure, defend networks, ensure civil preparedness and resilience, innovate, and strengthen the defense industrial base." McGerty acknowledges that the pledge to bolster spending comes "at a time of considerable fiscal pressures" for member states. However, she thinks the 1.5% infrastructure element has a "broad definition" to give countries flexibility. "Many countries are likely already spending this much on such funding areas," said McGerty. Yet, there are still substantial doubts over the capacity of some member states to hit the agreed levels. According to NATO's most recent defense spending figures from 2024, all but eight of the alliance's members were hitting the existing 2% target. A few have caught up in the meantime. However, those furthest behind in terms of military spending — Spain, Belgium, Canada, Italy and Portugal — also have the problem of having high government debt of close to or even over 100% of their gross domestic product (GDP). Greece is an outlier in that it has the highest debt level of all, but it already spends more than 3% on its defense. Ilke Toygür is sceptical if some northern European countries, who during the 2008/2009 financial crisis decried the debt levels of some southern European countries, understand the scale of the challenge for economies ramping up defense spending while managing high existing debt levels. "What will happen if these countries use the next 5-10 years to increase their defense spending. Does it mean more private sector investment is needed?" she wonders. In her opinion, a "fairer assessment of the debt question and the overall impact on the European economy at large" is needed. McGerty argues that countries with strong fiscal positions, such as Germany, can borrow to meet the targets but those with longer-term debt issues will be reluctant to add to that debt. If those still lagging behind the 2% mark are to have "any hope of meeting the 5% target without borrowing more," she noted, they would have to make the kind of dramatic choices abhorred by Sanchez, or hope the private sector comes to the rescue. Increases in military spending would have to be funded through other means, McGerty believes, including, for example, "higher taxation, cuts to other areas of public spending or via other creative funding options including special funds administered by central banks or treasuries, multilateral lending instruments, or mobilizing private investment." While leaders like Sanchez and others are concerned about borrowing and potential cuts, experts say the writing has been on the wall for a while. McGerty noted that NATO chief Rutte stated already in December 2024 that increases in European defense spending would necessarily impact spending on pensions, education and health care, Yet ramping up military spending brings its own financial risks. As Europe rushes to build up its own arms sector, rising inflation in the defense industry, supply chain delays, and labor issues mean ever more money is being needed to meet the same ends. So, Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), warned in March that higher defense spending itself could contribute to inflation — yet another reminder that for many countries, the rush to make Europe safer, will come at a high price.
