Following a brutal attack on 68-year-old Domingo Tomás Martínez, the town of Torre Pacheco in southeastern Spain, with a population of 41,000, experienced a second night of violent riots. Migrants armed with machetes were seen, garbage containers were set on fire, stones were thrown, and the Civil Guard arrived with reinforcements.

The pensioner was knocked down and seriously injured on Wednesday morning during his daily walk. According to investigators, a group of three to four young men, believed to be Moroccan, were “just looking for a thrill,” filmed the scene, and fled. Martínez had to be treated in the intensive care unit of the Santa Lucía Hospital in Cartagena, where his condition is stable. The perpetrators have not yet been identified.

Outraged by the violent attack, the town hall called for a silent rally on Friday evening in the Plaza Alcalde Pedro Jiménez. Up to 2,000 people turned up, supported by local politicians from the right-wing populist Vox party.

After dark, emotions boiled over: barricades were erected, containers set on fire, and emergency services were pelted with bottles. The violence was repeated the following night, with individual rioters deliberately damaging shops owned by Moroccans.

Civil war-like scenes

Mayor Pedro Ángel Roca (PP) condemned the riots as “unacceptable” and called for a permanent increase in the number of Civil Guard officers: “Our police are at their limit. We need more forces immediately to restore order.” The central government delegate, Mariola Guevara, promised an extended weekend contingent from Murcia; special forces are to prevent further unrest. Following the civil war-like scenes, initial investigations into breach of the peace and damage to property are underway.

Left-wing regional politicians accuse Vox of exploiting the incident, saying its ongoing campaign against mass immigration has inflamed tensions. Vox representatives deny responsibility and point to legitimate fears among the population.

Torre-Pacheco is located in Campo de Cartagena, a center of vegetable cultivation that employs thousands of seasonal workers from North Africa. Social workers see a dangerous mix of work pressure, miserable living conditions, and a lack of police presence. “The lines between legitimate concern and xenophobia are blurring,” warns sociologist María Delgado from the University of Murcia.

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