What is happening in Torre Pacheco, Spain? Bishop breaks silence

Torre Pacheco is now on edge due to a wave unprecedented violence.

Torre Pacheco in Murcia, a town of about 40,000 people, was the scene of escalating tensions over the weekend between the locals and youths of North African descent.

Local media reported that far-right groups were also involved in the clashes and raiding the town to search for North Africans – especially Moroccans.

Violence triggered by Domingo’s assault

These attacks followed an attack on Domingo, Domingo was 68 years old. He was reportedly brutally beaten up by a Maghrebi youth, which quickly became an issue of racial and politic anger.

Murcia police confirmed on Monday night that they had arrested two individuals who helped the alleged assailant flee.

According to the Guardia Civil, neither of them are believed to be the attacker. However, both (both Maghrebi and not from the town) helped the suspect escape and destroyed evidence.

Political tensions – VOX calls on “mass deportations”.

Political tensions are also rising. Santiago Abascal is the leader of VOX, and he has allegedly called on “mass-deportations” as a response to Torre Pacheco’s incidents.

However, other political voices have condemned the racism of the unrest, and called for unity. Irene Montero (former Minister for Equality) posted on Facebook: “Violence, racism, and hate speech are not the answers.” Torre Pacheco requires investment in integration, community safety, and education.

Local officials of the Socialist Workers’ Party echoed the same concerns and warned against the instrumentalisation isolated crimes in order to stigmatise whole communities.

Attacks against Moroccans and their business

What began as a peaceful anti-violence march on Friday, led by the town’s mayor Pedro Ángel Roca, quickly devolved into chaos.

Local sources claim that agitators hijacked a demonstration and shouted anti-Moroccan chants. Images on social media depict masked men calling on the expulsion and attacks of migrants-run businesses.

Online, there are several videos showing Moroccan migrants being threatened and chased. The North Africans armed and organised themselves at the same time to defend themselves against the attacks.

In order to put things in perspective, there are more than one million Moroccans living in Spain. Many of them live in the Murcia area. One in three Torre Pacheco residents are of foreign descent, and many are employed as agricultural workers.

Bishop of Cartagena warns against extremism

In the wake of such violence, Bishop José Manuel Lorca Planes of Cartagena issued a public appeal for calm and compassion.

“Violence does not solve anything.” This only increases fear and mistrust. “We must stay faithful to our calling of love, peace and coexistence”, the bishop stated in a press release.

He thanked the people of Torre Pacheco and their long history of hospitality. He also highlighted the role that local parishes play in reconciliation.

“We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into extremism.” “We need to have the courage to listen to others, to heal and to stand for what’s just.”

As tensions continue to rise in Torre Pacheco calls for peace and dialogue are heard across the political, religious, and social spectrum.

Here are more updates from Spain.