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Rabat – Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has officially pointed fingers at far-right party Vox, accusing it of inciting the recent wave of violence in southern Spain, particularly Torre Pacheco in southeastern Spain.
Migrant communities, particularly Moroccans, were targeted following an assault incident against a Spanish retiree last week.
Police in Spain have arrested eight suspects since Friday amid a wave of violence targeting North African immigrants, with two confirmed of committed the assault against the individual.
Converging reports said the nest was fueled by the hate-filled rhetoric dissipated by the far-right.
In an interview today with Cadena Ser radio, Marlaska said the arrests took place, noting that the majority, five of the eight, of those arrested for acts of violence are Spanish nationals. He added that an investigation is ongoing to determine the full scope of responsibility.
The confirmation comes in contrast to misleading narratives targeting migrants, particularly Moroccans.
Marlaska accused Vox of exacerbating the unrest in Torre Pacheco, noting that “organized groups” are active to criminalize immigration instead of promoting coexistence and prosperity.
He stressed that the events are not rooted in migrant related crime, but are instead the result of hate-fueled rhetoric by Vox and its affiliates.
Pedro Angel Roca, the mayor of Torre Pacheco, also defended migrants, noting that there are families that have been living in the town for over 20 years, working in different sectors, including agriculture.
Several new outlets circulated reports saying that tensions remain high in the region, documenting the attacks against North African immigrants, both on and offline.
El País reported that far-right groups exploited the event, using social media to organize a “hunt” against migrants from North Africa in the San Antonio neighborhood, which serves as home to a large Moroccan community.
According to recent data from the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, the number of foreign workers affiliated with Spain’s social security system reached a historic high in June, totaling 3,096,014 individuals.
Moroccans remain the largest foreign community affiliated with Spanish social security, with 375,042 workers, ahead of Romanians, Colombians, and Italians.
