- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Murcia Today Alicante Today
Date Published: 12/05/2021
ARCHIVED - Two nights of rioting in La Linea, Cadiz, following the deaths of two local men
Residents in La Atunara and San Bernardo in La Linea, Cadiz, are reportedly planning more protests following the deaths.
The deaths of two suspected drug runners who drowned after their boat ran into trouble off the coast of La Linea on Monday, May 10 sparked a second night of fires, vandalism and riots as tensions continue to run high in the low-income areas of La Atunara and San Bernardo.
Anti-police feeling spilled over into violence after the two local men, aged 19 and 51, drowned on Monday trying to swim to shore after their boat, which was believed to have been used to transport fuel between the coast and drugs ships out to sea, developed a problem.
📺Intervención en @A3Noticias respecto a la violencia que se ha producido las últimas 24 horas en La Línea de la Concepción, en el #CampoDeGibraltar.
— JUPOL (@JupolNacional) May 11, 2021
💪Mandamos TODO nuestro apoyo a los COMPAÑEROS allí destinados y desplegados.#ZonaEspecialSingularidad#EquiparacionYa pic.twitter.com/Ow2n9pTuOW
Emergency services came out to try to rescue the pair after receiving reports that the men were in the sea and struggling to swim, however after reaching the men health workers were reportedly unable to save them.
Their deaths caused anger at the authorities in the high-crime and unemployment areas where drug gangs are particularly active, after protestors accused the police of not only not doing enough to rescue the men, but also of refusing to go out into the water and rescue them.
Officials rejected the claims but on Monday, May 10 rioters took to the streets burning vehicles and buildings, destroying public spaces and throwing missiles at police, forcing officers to fire shots to try to disperse the group.
A second night of riots took place on Tuesday, May 11, while critics of the authorities have called for a fresh demonstration today, May 12, departing from the port of La Atunara, following the funerals of the two men in La Linea.
Mañana en calma en el barrio de La Atunara en La Línea de la Concepción 📍 Cádiz tras los disturbios de anoche.
— RTVEAndalucía (@RTVEAndalucia) May 11, 2021
▪️ El detonante, la muerte de dos personas que se ahogaron tras el naufragio de una lancha.
🎙️ @manuelroldan_ @rtvenoticias pic.twitter.com/jlo7RdCbTI
Police have announced they will be investigating those responsible for the riots seen this week, which come following several drug arrests across the province of Cadiz.
Images: Jupol
Contact Murcia Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268