Politics · Spain · 7 hrs ago
Police clashes break out at Vito Quiles event in Zaragoza
Spanish activist Vito Quiles held a rally in Zaragoza on Thursday as part of a tour around Spain.
He had called supporters to the University of Zaragoza’s law faculty, but the university denied permission for the event.
Student and antifascist groups gathered there, while Quiles’s supporters waited nearby, with police separating the crowds.
Police made several charges, using batons and pepper spray, and at least one person was injured during the clashes and confrontations.
Quiles moved his event to nearby San Francisco Square, where supporters and opponents continued to trade shouts and throw objects.
He spoke against Spain’s government and urged supporters to remove it in the November 20 election.
National Police escorted Quiles from the area to a nearby car park, where he left by car.
Police used batons and pepper spray during clashes at a Vito Quiles event in Zaragoza, and at least one person was injured.
Quiles had planned to speak at the University of Zaragoza’s Faculty of Law, but the university had denied permission for the event.
He moved the gathering to nearby San Francisco Square after he could not enter the university grounds.
Supporters and opponents exchanged insults and threw objects, while Quiles delivered remarks criticising Spain’s government.
Police escorted Quiles and his security team to a nearby car park, where they left by car.
- Who
- Vito Quiles, his supporters, opposing demonstrators and National Police officers.
- What
- Clashes broke out around Quiles’s event. Police used batons and pepper spray, and at least one person was injured.
- When
- Thursday, October 22, 2026. The event was called for 19:00, and Quiles arrived at the square around 20:00.
- Where
- Zaragoza, first at the University of Zaragoza’s Faculty of Law and later at nearby San Francisco Square.
- Why
- Quiles had called the event as part of his “Mafia or Patria” tour; opposing groups also gathered to protest. The sources do not state what prompted the clashes.
Quiles and his supporters
Opposing demonstrators
Event
Quiles and his supporters
Quiles called supporters to a gathering as part of his “Mafia or Patria” tour.
Opposing demonstrators
Student and antifascist groups gathered to protest.
Political stance
Quiles and his supporters
Quiles criticised the government of Pedro Sánchez and “the reds.
Opposing demonstrators
Demonstrators chanted slogans opposing fascism.
Confrontation
Quiles and his supporters
Quiles’s supporters exchanged insults with opponents, and some supporters struck a young man, leaving him bleeding.
Opposing demonstrators
Opponents exchanged insults and threw objects; police action was directed mainly against antifascists, according to the article.
The University of Zaragoza denied permission for Quiles’s event.
Student and antifascist groups gathered on university grounds, an hour before the announced 19:00 start.
Police used batons and pepper spray during tensions between demonstrators and Quiles’s supporters.
Quiles arrived at San Francisco Square after being unable to enter the university grounds.
A young man was beaten and left bleeding, and police escorted Quiles and his security team to a nearby car park.
- City
- Zaragoza
- Event date
- October 22, 2026
- Announced start
- 19:00
- Venue initially planned
- Faculty of Law, University of Zaragoza
- Later location
- San Francisco Square
- Injuries
- At least one person injured