Torre Pacheco, a small town in the southeastern region of Murcia, Spain, has found itself at the epicenter of national and international attention following an alleged assault on a 68-year-old pensioner named Domingo. What began as a violent but isolated incident soon snowballed into two nights of rioting, fueled in large part by a wave of misinformation and anti-migrant rhetoric circulating on social media platforms.
Domingo recounted being attacked during his morning walk by three young men—one of whom physically assaulted him, leaving him with severe injuries to his head, face, and body. Authorities have ruled out robbery as a motive and believe the assault may have been part of a disturbing social media “challenge” targeting the elderly. Three suspects of North African origin have been arrested in connection with the attack. One of them, a 19-year-old believed to be the primary assailant, was caught attempting to flee to France through the Basque province of Gipuzkoa.
The incident immediately triggered protests in Torre Pacheco, but the demonstrations quickly escalated into violent clashes. Groups were seen roaming the streets, reportedly targeting individuals of foreign descent. Several injuries were reported despite a strong police presence. Law enforcement arrested at least 14 individuals connected to the unrest, and businesses owned by immigrants—including a kebab shop—were vandalized.
One key factor that exacerbated tensions was the rapid spread of disinformation. A graphic video purporting to show Domingo’s assault went viral, shared widely by political figures including leaders of the anti-establishment SALF party. However, both local authorities and the victim have confirmed that the footage is unrelated to the Torre Pacheco incident. The video actually depicts a separate assault that occurred in May in Almería, a city approximately 200 kilometers away. The victim of that attack even publicly identified himself in an Instagram video, confirming the footage was not connected to Torre Pacheco.
Photographs of Domingo’s injuries, however, are genuine and underscore the brutal nature of the assault. But the lack of verified video footage of the actual incident has opened the door to rampant speculation and the circulation of unrelated violent clips. Fact-checkers at Euroverify and Spanish outlets have debunked several of these videos, including one allegedly showing migrants attacking an elderly man—footage that actually originated in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2021. Another widely shared video of a street clash with police turned out to be from Torrevieja, not Torre Pacheco.
Adding to the chaos, a fake communique purportedly from the town hall circulated online, calling for a protest against what it described as rising insecurity due to immigration. The local government has categorically denied issuing such a statement, clarifying that the only official congregation advertised was aimed at condemning recent criminal acts, without singling out migrants or linking crime to immigration. Nonetheless, the fake flyer spread rapidly on platforms like Telegram and was even picked up by Russian state-affiliated outlet Pravda, further fanning the flames of misinformation.
Spanish law enforcement and government agencies are increasingly concerned about the role social media plays in radicalizing individuals and inciting violence. Authorities report that far-right extremist groups, particularly the group “Deport Them Now,” used online platforms to mobilize participants from across Spain to join the riots in Torre Pacheco. These groups circulated hate speech and open calls for violence, with messages urging residents to “hunt down” immigrants.
In response, Spanish officials moved quickly to shut down multiple Telegram groups tied to these organizations. Police sources confirmed to El Mundo that “hundreds” of extremists traveled to the area after being incited online.
Torre Pacheco is a multicultural town with a population of around 40,000, nearly 7,000 of whom are of African origin. Historically, the town has relied heavily on migrant labor, especially in its robust agricultural sector. Community leaders now fear that the recent violence and misinformation-fueled hysteria could strain social cohesion and damage years of integration efforts.
The incident has also drawn attention from national leaders and human rights groups who are calling for a more proactive stance against online disinformation and hate speech. The Spanish government is reportedly considering new legislative tools to combat digital incitement to violence and the spread of manipulated content.
The events in Torre Pacheco underscore how rapidly misinformation can inflame public sentiment and provoke violence, especially when weaponized by political extremists. With tensions still high, local authorities and civil society groups are urging calm and calling for a united front against hate-fueled narratives that distort facts and put lives at risk.
