Latest news with #LaOpiniondeMurcia
Observer
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Several hurt in anti-migrant unrest in Span
MADRID: Several people were hurt in a second night of anti-migrant unrest in the Spanish town of Torre Pacheco after a pensioner was beaten up, authorities said. Despite a major police presence, groups armed with batons roamed the streets looking for foreign-origin people, regional newspaper La Opinion de Murcia reported. The regional government did not say how many people were injured but stated that at least one person had been arrested for the violence. The unrest erupted after a 68-year-old man told Spanish media he was beaten up in the street on Wednesday by three youths of North African origin. The town hall organised a demonstration that was intended to be peaceful but where far-right elements shouted anti-migrant slogans. One group, named "Deport Them Now", posted a message on social media calling for attacks against people of North African origin. Spanish authorities launched an appeal for calm in the town of around 36,000 people. Spain's Youth Minister Sira Rego, a member of the extreme left wing party Sumar, condemned the violence against migrants in a message on Bluesky, blaming the role of the "ultra-right" in the unrest. — AFP
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Spanish town that has become the centre of anti-migrant violence sees another night of unrest as police - and hard-right agitators - descend after man, 68, was attacked by 'three Moroccans'
Tensions continued to simmer for a third night in a southern Spanish town which has been gripped by clashes between police and far-right agitators. The sleepy farming community of Torre Pacheco turned into a 'powder keg' after the brutal beating of a pensioner sparked outrage last week. The 68-year-old man told Spanish media that he was set upon by three men of North African origin, suffering severe injuries to his head. The man, named locally as Domingo, said the men jumped on him and hit him before his wife found him covered in blood lying on the floor last Wednesday. No suspect has been identified and no arrests have been made as police continue to investigate the attack. A peaceful protest was held calling for more security in the town, but violent clashes, driven by anti-immigrant groups, later began to take hold. 'People from outside the municipality and even outside the region, armed with sticks and shouting, went to homes where they knew migrants lived, in order to intimidate them,' local media outlet La Opinión de Murcia reported. Riots over the weekend were organised by far-right groups coming from outside the town and fuelled by racist messages and calls for violence on social media, a Spanish government official said last night. Authorities found posts that had incited a planned 'hunt for migrants' on July 15, 16 and 17, Murcia delegate Mariola Guevara said, with the so-called 'hunt' beginning a day early. She said that one person had already been arrested for public disorder in relation to the 'calls to hate' and 'incitement to violence', but said that 'many more have been identified' and that there would be more arrests in due course. 'During the early hours of last night, an attempted confrontation was contained thanks to the joint deployment of the Civil Guard and Local Police, which allowed for a peaceful night without serious incidents,' she said. Almost 100 additional police officers are reportedly being deployed to the town to shore up the security situation, with videos showing armed riot cops patrolling the streets. Mayor of Torre Pacheco, Pedro Ángel Roca (PP), thanked the State Security Forces for their work, which he said prevented escalation. 'Our people want to live together in peace, and we will continue working to ensure that this is the case,' he said. Violence on Sunday saw six people were arrested, four of whom were of Moroccan origin and two Spaniards, according to police. A heightened police presence last night meant the situation was largely contained on Sunday night. 'If it weren't for all the police forces here today, this would be another pitched battle,' the town's mayor said. There has been apprehension and fear among the 400,000 residents in the town, around a third of whom are from immigrant backgrounds. Ayoub, a resident of Moroccan origin, told local media that several men from outside the village come to provoke businesses run by foreigners. Another terrified resident named as Nabil, 31, reportedly said of the men travelling to the town: 'If they catch you, they'll beat you up.' Podemos MP and spokesperson in the Regional Assembly of Murcia, Maria Marin, condemned the 'savage' attack on the man. She warned that the municipality 'cannot become a war zone for far-right gangs.' We extend our complete solidarity to the victim and her family and demand the maximum punishment for those responsible, wherever they may come from,' Marín said in a statement. She added that she condemned 'the manipulation of the far right, which once again emerges like vultures every time there is a tragedy.'
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Spain: 5 hurt in anti-migrant violence blamed on far right
AI- Representative Image An outbreak of violence between migrants and residents in a south-eastern Spanish town was fuelled by social media posts from far-right groups, an official from Spain'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. What do we know? 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 La Opinion de Murcia reported that groups were looking for people of foreign origin. 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 centre 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo Roca said most of the people taking part in the riots had come from other areas. Pensioner recovering after beating by youths 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 made toward migrants Threats directed at Moroccan families living in Torre-Pacheco have been circulating on social media for days, according to the daily El Pais. 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 percent of the population in the town, about twice the average in Spain, according to El Mundo newspaper. The area around the town also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as farm laborers.
Local Spain
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Several hurt in anti-migrant unrest in Spanish town
Despite a major police presence, groups armed with batons roamed the streets looking for foreign-origin people, regional newspaper La Opinion de Murcia reported. The regional government did not say how many people were injured but stated that at least one person had been arrested for the violence. The unrest erupted after a 68-year-old man told Spanish media he was beaten up in the street on Wednesday by three youths of North African origin. The attack was filmed and put on social media. The town hall organised a demonstration on Friday that was intended to be peaceful but where far-right elements shouted anti-migrant slogans. One group, named "Deport Them Now", posted a message on social media calling for attacks against people of North African origin. Spanish authorities launched an appeal for calm on Sunday in the town of 36,000 people. "Torre Pacheco must get back to normal," said the head of the Murcian regional government Fernando López Miras in a message on X. "I understand the frustration but nothing justifies violence," added the conservative politician. "I call on residents to be calm, for tranquility," said Torre Pacheco mayor, Pedro Ángel Roca Torne, on RTVE public television. Spain's Youth Minister Sira Rego, a member of the extreme left wing party Sumar, condemned the violence against migrants in a message on Bluesky, blaming the role of the "ultra-right" in the unrest.
New Paper
03-07-2025
- New Paper
Audrey Fang death: Suspect Mitchell Ong linked to DNA found on victim's body
One of two DNA profiles found on the body of a Singaporean woman killed in Spain in April 2024 has been linked by Spanish experts to the only suspect, a Singaporean man. Two male DNA profiles were earlier found on Ms Audrey Fang's body, and Spain's National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Science found that one of them matches the paternal lineage of suspect Mitchell Ong, news outlet La Opinion de Murcia reported on June 18. The match was for the Y-chromosome haplotype, which is a set of genetic markers passed directly from father to son. The second DNA profile has no links with Ong's DNA. Ong's lawyer Maria Jesus Ruiz de Castaneda said the findings cannot be used to identify a person conclusively, as the genetic marker is shared with all male members of Ong's paternal lineage. She added that the finding "reinforces the need to expand the investigation to include other possible individuals". "Mitchell Ong maintains his innocence, fully trusts the work of the Spanish justice system, and will continue to collaborate in all necessary to clarify the truth," she said. Ong, 43, was arrested in Spain in April 2024 after Ms Fang's body was found with multiple stab wounds earlier that month in the town of Abanilla. Ms Fang, an architect, left Singapore on April 4 to travel alone to Xabia, in Spain's Valencia region. She was supposed to return eight days later but became uncontactable on April 10. The 39-year-old died from knife wounds and head trauma. DNA from two men was found on her clothes, La Opinion reported in March, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in her death. Ong, who was previously an insurance agent and a financial expert, was also found to be nominated as the sole beneficiary of Ms Fang's Central Provident Fund savings, with the accounts reportedly containing $498,000.
