In Torre Pacheco, Spain, police have made a significant arrest following a series of violent riots fueled by anti-immigrant sentiments. The local leader of the group "Deport Them Now," identified by the initials C.L.F., was taken into custody on charges of inciting violence during clashes that have rocked the town, which is home to a sizable North African community. His arrest, announced by the interior ministry, comes after several days of unrest that began on Tuesday, with reports of rioters attacking businesses owned by Moroccan residents and other immigrant communities.
C.L.F. has been actively spreading messages denouncing immigrants through the messaging platform Telegram, contributing to the climate of hostility that led to the unrest. The police seized his computers and are taking measures to restrict access to his group's Telegram channels in a bid to quell further violence. Despite the arrest, the situation in Torre Pacheco remains tense, as the authorities deployed riot police in anticipation of continued clashes.
The violence is some of the worst public disorder seen in Spain in recent years, occurring against a backdrop of a liberal government that has relaxed immigration laws to facilitate the legal status of undocumented immigrants. Over the course of the riots, which lasted for four nights, rioters vandalized businesses frequented by immigrants, including shawarma and halal shops, as well as establishments catering to communities from Pakistan, Turkey, and Latin America.
As violence escalated, 11 individuals were arrested, with 10 of them linked to far-right groups from other areas. In a related development, prosecutors in Murcia are investigating José Ángel Antelo, leader of the anti-immigrant political party Vox, for potentially inciting violence through his hate speech. Antelo, a former professional basketball player, has been vocal in his opposition to Spain's immigration policies.
