Spain Arrests Eight After Multi-Night Anti-Migrant Clashes in Torre Pacheco

Spanish authorities have arrested eight individuals following three nights of violent clashes in Torre Pacheco, a southeastern town with a large migrant population. The unrest was triggered by an attack on a 68-year-old local man, reportedly assaulted by North African migrants, which led far-right groups to incite retaliatory violence against migrants, many of whom work as agricultural laborers in the Murcia region. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska condemned the violence, attributing it to the anti-immigration rhetoric espoused by far-right parties such as Vox, whose regional leaders have been accused of hate speech, prompting a formal complaint by the Socialist Party. Investigations revealed that organized groups had mobilized via social media, with some bringing weapons to the area, intensifying tensions. Local authorities urged migrants to avoid confrontation, while a significant police presence was deployed to restore order amid reports of families closing businesses and keeping children home from school due to safety fears. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding immigration, social integration, and political polarization in Spain.