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Malaga, Spain: Yzabelle Boustyn & Tom Ewart Smith
Locals in Malaga have blamed tourism, immigration and the murder of a priest on the brutal killing.
The body of Father Richard Gross, 80, was found in a holiday apartment on January 20 after neighbours alerted the police to ‘agonising screams’ that ‘sounded like someone being killed’.
The Olive Press has revealed that Gross was staying at the 4 Calle de Viento property, which is part of Holidays2Malaga.
Locals are blaming ‘mass tourism’ and immigration for the tragedy, claiming criminals are being increasingly attracted to the city to ‘take advantage’ of ‘vulnerable tourists’ staying in the area.
The 44-year old bricklayer who lives with his family in the area said, “I believe tourism is the culprit. 20 years ago, when there were only locals here, people would check to see if they heard screams, but now, everyone assumes it’s holidaymakers coming back from the bars.”
“Tourists take less care of their belongings. They also don’t report if they have been robbed, which attracts criminals.
“I am scared. We need more cameras and more police.” “But the government won’t do anything because it would scare tourists away.”
The locals were consulted by Olive Press believed the crime was a robbery gone wrong carried out by ‘Moroccan’ immigrants.
Franco, the owner of Bar Mariscal in the area, said, “My TV had been stolen a few months ago, and police did nothing.” Many immigrants are here because they have no other way of making money. Violence in robberies is also on the rise. Many of us are unable to sleep and we are at God’s mercy.
They target tourists who are weak and will not go to the police. They wait until bars close before they strike.”
The 38-year-old claimed ‘all of Malaga’ is the same, with areas outside the historic centre becoming ‘increasingly dangerous’ due to a lack of police presence and security cameras.
He continued: “Once Calle Carreteria, the street which separates Malaga’s old town from its rest, is crossed there is no surveillance.”
Irene is a cleaner in the Simba Apartments, which are next door. She agrees that there have been a lot robberies. They exploit people on holidays, they hunt here.
“They robbed a house down the street and used a wheelbarrow to cart out their loot…they are brazen, shameless.”
While walking around the La Goleta neighbourhood, the anti-tourism sentiment was palpable, with the phrase ‘guiris go home’ emblazoned across doors and walls.
Laura Aguilar, a cooking instructor at Luz y Tierra, disagreed. “I have lived here for 8 years and never had a problem.”
“It is true, there are many immigrants and tourists in this area. That means that you do not know anyone.” “Anyone could be a suspected.”
Her father, Pedro Pastor (94), added, “It’s bad here in Madrid and Barcelona.” When you walk through the streets of the capital, all the people are foreigners. “Immigrants exploit that.”
