Murcia: A surge of anti-migrant violence in Torre Pacheco has drawn strong condemnation from Bishop José Manuel Lorca Planes of Cartagena, who called on the faithful to reject hatred and embody peace amidst rising racial tensions. The unrest, fuelled by far-right agitation, unfolded over the weekend following the alleged assault of a local pensioner by youths of North African descent.
The incident triggered a large civic rally on Friday evening, initially organized by Mayor Pedro Ángel Roca as a call for unity. However, the gathering quickly spiraled into chaos as members of far-right groups, including the Vox party, hijacked the event, shouting xenophobic chants and inciting violence. Migrants primarily from the Maghreb region were pursued, harassed, and attacked in the streets. Viral videos captured moments of intense hostility, prompting nationwide outrage.
Local reports likened the attacks to a “manhunt,” spotlighting the targeted brutality. Despite increased police deployments, further altercations erupted in migrant-dense neighborhoods, underscoring the region’s fragile social fabric. Far-right agitators exacerbated tensions online, calling for the expulsion of North Africans and attacks on migrant-owned businesses.
Bishop Lorca Planes, in a pastoral message, decried the violence as senseless and warned of its corrosive impact on social harmony. “Violence does not heal it only deepens fear,” he stated. He praised Torre Pacheco’s history of hospitality and the contributions of its immigrant communities, especially in the agriculture sector.
Nearly one-third of Torre Pacheco’s residents are of foreign origin, many working as essential laborers. Civil society leaders, including Sabah Yacubi, head of the Association of Maghrebi Workers, labeled the attacks as “lynchings” and urged authorities to enforce protections for all residents.
Calling for dialogue and reconciliation, Bishop Lorca Planes urged Catholics to resist extremism and witness Christ’s message through actions of compassion and forgiveness. He also commended parish leaders and community workers fostering peace in the wake of turmoil.
As Spain grapples with a growing undercurrent of racial hostility, voices of moral leadership like Bishop Lorca Planes call the nation back to its foundational values of dignity, coexistence, and fraternity.