Moroccan Community Leaders Appeal for Calm Following Anti-Migrant Clashes in Spain

Tensions flared in the southeastern Spanish town of Torre Pacheco over the past week as violent anti-migrant clashes erupted following the reported assault of an elderly local man.

The incident, allegedly involving youths of North African origin, quickly gained traction on social media, prompting far-right protests and nights of unrest that drew national and international attention.

In response, leaders of the Moroccan community in the town have issued urgent appeals for peace and restraint. Among them, a longtime resident named Abdelali urged young people to remain indoors and avoid confrontation, stressing that the community seeks safety and coexistence, not violence.

“We want peace. We don’t want criminals, we don’t want violence. This is our home too,” he said in a televised statement.

The unrest saw confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement officers, with police deploying rubber bullets to disperse crowds that threw bottles and fireworks. Spanish authorities confirmed the arrest of eight individuals in connection with the clashes. Among those detained were two suspects believed to be involved in the original assault and six others—five Spanish nationals and one North African—charged with offences ranging from hate crimes to destruction of public property and incitement to violence.

Torre Pacheco, located in the Murcia region, has a significant migrant population—estimated to be nearly a third of the town’s residents—most of whom work in the region’s agricultural sector.

This demographic shift has fueled long-standing social tensions, which appear to have been reignited by the recent incident and subsequent reaction from far-right elements.

Mayor Pedro Ángel Roca called on residents to stay calm and not confront rioters, while the regional president of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, emphasized that “nothing justifies violence,” regardless of the circumstances.

He expressed concern over the growing unrest and stressed the need to restore order through lawful and peaceful means.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, placed the blame for the escalating violence squarely on the shoulders of far-right groups and politicians, accusing them of stoking xenophobia and portraying migrants as threats to public safety.

Authorities have since opened investigations into online hate speech and incitement. A notable Telegram channel, “DeportThemNowSpain,” which had been promoting violence against Moroccan migrants, was shut down as part of the effort. Police also arrested the alleged leader of a supremacist group, “Deport Them Now Europe,” in a separate operation near Barcelona.

The clashes in Torre Pacheco have drawn comparisons to the infamous El Ejido riots of 2000, which also took place in an agricultural setting where migrant labour is vital to the economy. Back then, days of anti-migrant violence erupted under similar conditions—an isolated crime linked to immigrants sparking a disproportionate and racially charged response.

As Spain grapples once again with the challenge of balancing migration, integration, and rising far-right rhetoric, many voices from within the affected communities are calling for dialogue, justice, and peace. For now, the focus remains on de-escalating tensions and ensuring that such violence does not repeat itself in a town that depends on the very communities now being targeted.