Disinformation Fuels Far-Right Anti-Migrant Violence in Spain

Anti-Migrant Violence in Torre Pacheco Reveals Dangerous Interplay Between Online Disinformation and Real-World Conflict

A wave of unprecedented anti-migrant violence that erupted in the southeastern Spanish town of Torre Pacheco has exposed the troubling connection between online disinformation, hate speech, and physical confrontations, according to experts analyzing the disturbance.

The unrest, which began in early July, saw far-right groups clashing with immigrant residents, primarily of Moroccan origin. Despite the potential for serious violence, a substantial police presence managed to prevent major confrontations during several days of street disturbances.

The catalyst for the violence was an alleged attack on a 68-year-old Spanish pensioner on July 9, reportedly by three men of North African origin who the victim claimed assaulted him without provocation.

The situation escalated rapidly when the conservative-led city council organized a protest against insecurity just two days after the reported assault. What began as a demonstration quickly transformed when far-right groups joined, introducing hostile anti-immigrant rhetoric. For several consecutive nights, riots consumed the streets of Torre Pacheco, a city of approximately 40,000 residents.

Authorities have detained 14 individuals in connection with the unrest, including three suspects allegedly involved in the attack on the retiree. Among those arrested was the leader of the extremist “Deport Them Now” group, who allegedly used social media to call for a “hunt” targeting migrants.

Though the violence caught many in Spain by surprise, experts note that anti-migrant sentiment had been building gradually, fueled by widespread disinformation campaigns across social media platforms.

“Disinformation in such cases is the fuel and the spark at the same time,” explained Alexandre Lopez Borrull, a professor in communication and information science at the Open University of Catalonia. “The narrative is fuelled over a long period of time, and when a specific event occurs, it can act as a spark in scenarios like the one that played out in Torre Pacheco.”

Digital verification experts in Spain have consistently debunked numerous false claims regarding immigrants, particularly concerning alleged preferential treatment in public benefits and supposed attacks on Spanish cultural traditions. In the Torre Pacheco case specifically, a video purportedly showing the assault on the pensioner and a list of alleged attackers circulated widely online before being exposed as fabrications.

Elisa Brey, a sociology professor at Madrid’s Complutense University, compared the phenomenon to arson: “It’s hot, there’s a temperature alert, and an arsonist passes by and throws a match. That is what happens with disinformation.”

The role of political parties in amplifying anti-immigrant rhetoric has been particularly significant. The far-right Vox party has consistently linked immigration to crime and recently proposed a controversial “remigration” plan involving mass deportations, echoing similar proposals from far-right movements across Europe.

Spain’s demographic landscape has shifted dramatically over recent decades, with foreigners now comprising 14 percent of the population—a substantial increase from just 1.6 percent in 1998. This demographic change has become a focal point for political messaging.

Experts describe a troubling pattern in how anti-immigrant discourse develops and spreads. According to Brey, it typically begins on less visible platforms like Telegram before migrating to more mainstream networks such as X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Once established online, politicians amplify these messages through public statements, giving them additional legitimacy.

The leader of Vox in the Murcia region, which includes Torre Pacheco, publicly blamed the unrest on “illegal immigration,” making unsubstantiated claims about migrants assaulting the elderly and committing sexual violence. These comments are now under investigation by prosecutors to determine if they constitute hate crimes.

Marcelino Madrigal, an expert in online platforms and cybersecurity, noted that political parties appear to be strategically shifting their positions on immigration with potential early elections in mind. “With disinformation about immigration, the aim is to destabilize a government or a country as well as present yourself as an alternative to save us from a problem that does not exist,” he explained.

As Torre Pacheco returns to an uneasy calm, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly online disinformation can translate into physical violence, particularly when amplified by political opportunism in an increasingly diverse society.