A police intervention at a major demonstration against tourist overcrowding in Palma left eight people injured, including a working photojournalist. The incident unfolded at the end of a peaceful march on Sunday, drawing sharp criticism of the police response and growing calls for Balearic Islands Government Delegate Alfonso Rodríguez to resign.
The National Police said officers acted in response to what they described as around 200 “aggressive and violent” individuals who allegedly attacked two tourists and threw objects at police. Those objects included sticks and stones, as well as screws and cans. The force maintains the intervention was necessary to restore order. Organizers and several political parties have condemned the actions as excessive and unjustified.
Menys Turisme and Més Vida organized the demonstration. Més per Mallorca and Podemos supported it. The march proceeded calmly until its final stage, when police closed access to Ses Voltes park, its planned endpoint, before the site reached capacity. Organizers say they learned only two days beforehand that no more than 2,000 people would be allowed into the park, and that no alternative venue was offered. After the city council rejected a last-minute change of location, the march ended as scheduled. The police cordon led to confrontations as participants tried to enter the park.
With access blocked, organizers moved the reading of their manifesto to nearby Parc de la Mar, where the crowd was densest. They allege that after the manifesto and scheduled performances ended, police began baton charges without warning, and no medical teams were on standby. Injured demonstrators, including the photojournalist, reportedly waited more than 45 minutes for medical attention and relied on bystanders with medical training. Police sources confirmed that five officers were also hurt. Officers fired three warning shots into the air during the clashes.
The photojournalist’s complaint alleges that an officer from the National Police’s Unidad de Intervención Policial (UIP) struck him on the head with a baton while he was covering the operation. As reported by Europa Press and Ara Balears, the alleged blow came during a second intervention, after an earlier police charge had ended and officers were withdrawing. The journalist says he “did not throw any object, make any threatening gesture, or adopt an offensive attitude toward the officers.” His complaint reportedly includes photographs of his injuries and audiovisual material. It also includes a medical report.
A Palma court has ordered the National Police to identify the officer alleged to have struck the journalist. The order allows investigators to establish which member of the unit was present at the relevant time. It is an investigative step, not a finding of criminal responsibility. The visual and medical material submitted with the complaint may help the court assess the sequence of events and the force used, along with officer records.
Separate reporting by Mallorca Zeitung put the overall number injured during the post-demonstration clashes at 25. Of those, 15 required medical treatment. The report also said five police officers were injured. Those figures differ from the eight injured cited in accounts of the incident and may reflect different time periods or counting categories. Police reportedly said officers had been attacked with objects including stones. The journalist denies threatening or offensive conduct.
Government Delegate Alfonso Rodríguez called images circulating on social media “unacceptable” and promised a thorough investigation. He said he planned to meet regional police chief José Antonio Puebla to review the events and determine responsibility. Més per Mallorca and Podemos have demanded Rodríguez’s immediate resignation, as have the protest organizers, citing his role in authorizing the police operation. The controversy follows a recent incident in which two activists were detained and handcuffed by the Guardia Civil for vandalizing real estate offices, further fueling criticism of the government’s handling of protests.
Balearic Islands President Marga Prohens described footage of the police-protester confrontation as “shocking” and called for explanations from the Government Delegate and relevant state officials. Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez labeled the scenes “shameful” and urged a full investigation into police conduct, including any resulting injuries.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions over tourism’s impact on Mallorca, as local authorities and residents increasingly voice concerns about pressure on infrastructure and public spaces. Debate over balancing economic benefits with quality of life has intensified, especially as the region faces record visitor numbers. Recent emergencies elsewhere in Spain, including the mass evacuation in Castellón due to wildfires, have also tested local authorities’ capacity to manage large-scale public safety challenges. For more on how Spanish regions are handling crisis situations, see the report on the recent wildfire evacuations in Castellón.
As investigations proceed, their outcome may influence future protocols for managing large demonstrations in tourist hotspots. The incident has highlighted growing friction between residents and authorities, with the tourism sector also drawn into the dispute. It has also sharpened calls for clear guidelines and transparent communication when handling public dissent.
