In the aftermath of the fire that erupted last Sunday at the Santiago Apóstol Church in El Pozuelo, the Deputy Government Delegate in Granada, José Antonio Montilla, has voiced his unwavering support and solidarity with the province's archdiocese and the municipality of Albuñol. Speaking to Europa Press on Monday, Montilla confirmed the arrest of the suspect by the Civil Guard, emphasizing that a comprehensive investigation is underway and that the individual «will be brought before a court so that appropriate measures can be taken». He also issued a stern warning against hate speech aimed at inciting intercommunity tensions and conflicts. This statement arrives amid a surge of reactions from the far-right, both through political channels and media outlets, following the revelation that the suspect is of Moroccan nationality. On the day of the incident, the Vox party condemned what it described as «a new attack against the values and traditions of Spain by foreigners who want to impose their beliefs through violence, while the bipartisan system of the PP and PSOE watches with complicit disdain». The Albuñol town hall has issued a «strong condemnation» of the «extremely serious» incident, with socialist mayor María José Sánchez (PSOE) urging calm. The local leader dismissed any attempts to exploit this «regrettable» event to «create divisions or confrontations» among residents. «Albuñol is a diverse, supportive, and welcoming municipality, where coexistence and respect are fundamental pillars that must not be compromised. An entire group cannot be criminalized for the actions of a single person», she asserted. Echoing this sentiment, José Antonio Montilla expressed his «full agreement with the Archbishop of Granada, who stated that an act of violence can never represent a religion, but only its perpetrator, to whom the provisions of the Penal Code must be applied». He further stressed the importance of rejecting «hate speech seeking to generate confrontations and conflicts between communities». On Sunday afternoon, the suspect reportedly broke into the church by shattering a stained glass window, proceeded to vandalize the parish with a hammer, and then set the interior ablaze. Fortunately, there were no casualties, though the fire did damage part of the site. Prompt intervention by the Civil Guard and firefighters helped contain the destruction.
