The fallout from last week's violent events in Torre Pacheco, southeastern Spain—targeting the local Moroccan community—continues to unfold, prompting official condemnation from Spain's highest authorities, as well as diplomatic and community engagement from Morocco. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has responded to the recent violence targeting the Moroccan community in Torre-Pacheco, near Murcia, which erupted last Wednesday. In a tweet, he declared: «Racism is incompatible with democracy. What is happening in Torre-Pacheco is a challenge for all of us». He added, «We must speak out, act firmly, and uphold the values that unite us. Spain is a country of rights, not hate». El racismo es incompatible con la democracia. Lo que estamos viendo en Torre-Pacheco nos interpela a todos. Debemos alzar la voz, actuar con firmeza y defender los valores que nos unen. España es un país de derechos, no de odio. — Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 14, 2025 For its part, the Consulate General of Morocco in Murcia issued a statement saying it is closely monitoring «these unfortunate events marked by violence, incitement, and hatred against members of the Moroccan community living in the municipality of Torre-Pacheco». The consulate condemned the attacks in the strongest terms and expressed full solidarity with the community, while maintaining ongoing communication with Spanish authorities to ensure the necessary protection for those who are experiencing genuine fear and distress. The consulate also praised «the considerable efforts made by security forces and other local authorities to contain the crisis and restore calm», while urging members of the Moroccan community to exercise restraint and follow instructions from local authorities during these difficult times. The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) also reacted via a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), condemning «all forms of violence, racism, and stigmatization». It stressed that «mutual respect, human dignity, and social cohesion must remain the fundamental principles uniting our communities». Vox Party Accused of Fueling the Violence Le Conseil de la communauté marocaine à l'étranger suit de près les événements survenus à Torre Pacheco en Espagne. Il dénonce fermement toute forme de violence, de racisme et de stigmatisation. Le respect mutuel, la dignité humaine et la cohésion sociale doivent rester les… pic.twitter.com/IMiYhN7ZKM — Conseil de la communauté marocaine à l'étranger (@CCMEOfficiel) July 14, 2025 Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska directly blamed the far-right Vox party, stating that «organized groups» were behind the unrest. He criticized Vox's rhetoric around «criminal immigration», describing it as an incitement to «illegal behavior and calls to action». The minister emphasized that «there is no connection between crime and immigration». Pedro Ángel Roca, the mayor of Torre-Pacheco, said on public broadcaster TVE that the situation has been «under control» since Sunday evening thanks to increased security reinforcements. He stressed the need to tackle crime in all its forms but warned of the risks posed by extremist groups from outside the city attempting to exploit the situation. According to authorities, several far-right groups were involved in the disturbances, including one called «Expel Them Now», which used Telegram to call for Moroccans to be driven out of town. The violence erupted last Wednesday after the circulation of a video showing an elderly man being violently attacked by three young men of North African origin, according to the victim's own account to local media. The footage sparked outrage, which far-right groups—both local and external—used to organize anti-immigrant rallies targeting people of Maghrebi origin. Con la detención en Gipuzkoa del presunto agresor del vecino de Torre Pacheco, ya son 10 los arrestados por este suceso y los posteriores incidentes. Gracias a las FCSE por su labor de investigación, prevención y contención. Seguimos trabajando por la seguridad y la convivencia. pic.twitter.com/3uf7RXIXk6 — Mariola Guevara Cava (@mariolaguevara) July 14, 2025 Two Undocumented Moroccans Arrested Mariola Guevara, the central government's delegate in the Murcia region, announced Monday via X that «ten people have been arrested so far». Among those arrested were two undocumented young Moroccan men, aged 21 and 22, who were allegedly present during the assault on the elderly man. They are being prosecuted for complicity and failure to assist a person in danger. The main perpetrator, a 19-year-old Moroccan man with legal residency, was arrested while attempting to flee to France through the town of Rentería. He has been placed in pretrial detention and faces charges of aggravated assault.
