The Murcia prosecutor’s office has launched investigations into two cases involving the spread of messages that may have triggered a wave of xenophobic violence in Torre Pacheco last summer. Investigators are focusing on statements and publications that appeared in both traditional media and on social networks, where immigration was directly linked to crime and alleged threats to local residents.
The first investigation concerns statements made by the regional leader of the Vox party in Murcia, delivered a few days before the unrest began. In those statements, illegal immigration was blamed for the rise in violence and crimes against various population groups. The second case relates to social media posts in which several well-known users, including members of political movements and activists, circulated messages that, according to complainants, could incite aggression and shape a negative image of migrants.
Among those under investigation are: a digital marketing specialist for one of the parties, the owner of a firm that handles tenant evictions, and an activist linked to far-right movements. The inquiry is analyzing whether their actions were coordinated and if they shared a common intent to incite hatred. Special attention is being given to cases where posts contained false information, as well as calls to form patrols and organize resistance to migrants.
The prosecution is also considering opening another case against the Vox leader, who has publicly spoken about a ‘massive migration invasion’ and linked recent crimes to the presence of foreigners. However, since he is a member of parliament, the decision to launch an investigation will be made by the Supreme Court prosecutor’s office.
All of these inquiries began following complaints from several political parties, including PSOE, Izquierda Unida, and Podemos. The investigations are currently at an early stage, and the prosecution must determine whether there are grounds to bring the cases to court or if the actions of those involved fall under freedom of expression.
As part of one of the cases, the prosecution has tasked the Civil Guard with preparing a report on possible coordination between the suspects and other authors of racist posts on social media. If a connection is found between them, the investigation will proceed as a single case. Otherwise, the materials will be forwarded to the relevant regional prosecutors.
Earlier in July in Mataró (Barcelona province), the creator of a far-right platform was detained for using his social media accounts to incite violence against people from Morocco living in Torre-Pacheco. The court ordered his pretrial detention, considering that his posts could have triggered mass unrest and threatened public order on racial hatred grounds.
The prosecutor’s office emphasizes that investigations are ongoing, and final decisions will be made after analyzing all circumstances and assessing possible violations of the hate speech law.
