A fewer days of clashes between Spaniards and North African immigrants on Costa Calida

What began as an incidental in Torre Pacheco on 9 July rapidly brought about a wave of tensions, fears and force not only in the Murcia region, but besides in Aranda de Duero, Almería and Torrevieja, or so-called. Warm Coast (Costa Calida)

In Torre Pacheco himself, the victim was a 68-year-old man – Domingo Tomás – who was brutally attacked on the street. According to his account, 3 attackers, at least 1 of them “maghrebic origins”, threw themselves at him “for fun” and hit him, 1 of them even recorded the full event by phone.

This event sparked a powerful reaction: recordings – partially manipulated – began to circulate on social media, driving the rage of the Spaniards and prompting local youth groups to mobilize. After the attack Torre Pacheco became an epicentre of anger manifestation. It was already Thursday that the locals had a rally. It was expected to be a peaceful event, but it escalated rapidly as any participants began raising anti-immigrant slogans and demanding retaliation.

On Friday and Saturday, organized groups, frequently from outside of Murcia, including right-wing activists, drew to the town. Visitors from Africa besides went out into the streets, and real riots began – containers were set on fire, random persons identified as immigrants were attacked, private premises were broken up, and police and Guardia civilian utilized rubber bullets and carried out detentions, most likely about 10 people. Among them, 2 people, participants of the 68-year-old assault, were detained outside Torre Pacheco, and a 3rd fishy was arrested in the Basque Country in the town of Rentería. There have been at least 5 injured during the riots; witnesses and local press besides mention harm to property – burnt containers, attacks on catering facilities.

The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, powerfully blamed VOX's “talk and hatred” and “organised extremist groups” for fueling conflicts. He stressed that many of the films that revolve around the network were manipulations (this was actually the truth) – including materials concerning another aggressions – and are utilized to inspire fear. On the another hand, a government typical in Murcia, Mariol Guevar, spoke of a "misinterpreting of events" and a desire to direct "racist hatred" towards migrants, while announcing further detentions. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and many leftist politicians warned against the “wave of xenophobia” and called for respect for human rights. Murcia's Autonomous Government announced an increase in police patrols, while condemning racially motivated force as well as any attacks on migrants. On the another hand, the leaders of VOX and any of Murcia's residents say that the problem is not in hatred speech, but in the failure of the authorities to respond to the emergence of crime in immigrant communities – squatting, insignificant drug addiction, occupation shortage, terrorizing the local population.

Similar scenes occurred in Aranda de Duero, Almería and Torrevieja. There were besides spontaneous clashes: residents clashed with migrants utilizing knives or sticks. Migration data indicates a fast increase in the inflow community, which raises integration challenges, but besides concerns among parts of the local population. According to the National Census of 1 January 2025, Spain has accepted over 8 million migrants over the past 20 years; there are already over 1 million Moroccans. According to the July 2025 polls, as many as 70% of Spaniards support mass deportations of illegal immigrants. What erstwhile was considered taboo on the political phase now becomes the central theme: the issue of security, border control and integration understood as almost forced assimilation.

The results of the polls translate straight into a political situation. VOX, inactive a fewer years ago treated as a marginal party, present notes evidence support, reaching 25-30% in any regions. A peculiarly strong increase in the numbers of this formation is seen in Murcia, Andalusia and provinces with the highest percent of the inflow population. In national surveys VOX is approaching 20% of support, making it the 3rd political force in the country, and in any studies even the second – after PSOE, ahead of the People's Party. Experts point out that the increasing popularity of VOX is not only due to the conventional right-wing electorate, but besides to the mobilisation of voters disappointed by government actions on safety and migration issues. Social sentiments increasingly reflect the sense of danger, uncertainty and the request for extremist action. This is why border control, deportation and public order are becoming a key point of debate before the forthcoming parliamentary elections.