Bilbao protest against Vito Quiles turns violent, with cars burned and 14 people detained

Youths protesting a planned appearance by the agitator Vito Quiles gathered at the Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao on Monday, 26 October, and the demonstration turned violent. Two marches converged on the campus at 17.00, and participants, many dressed in black and wearing hoods, set off fireworks and rockets and burned several skip containers and rubbish bins. At least half a dozen cars were set alight on Avenida Lehendakari Agirre, and the campus had been closed ahead of the event, which was due to start at 19.00.

Quiles announced on social media that he had suspended the event after speaking with the Ertzaintza commander, who warned him of a very high risk of disorder in the city. According to the Basque Security Department, he had called the Ertzaintza at 14.00 to ask whether the event could move elsewhere, was told there was no other option, and at 16.06 confirmed in writing that he was dropping it. Police also reported that a group heading toward the Ertzain-Etxea in Deusto threw stones and set fire to a Municipal Police motorbike along the way.

Nine people had been detained by the early evening, and the figure later rose to 14 according to Basque Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, who spoke at an event in Tolosa. Pradales said anyone who generates an incident, a disturbance or a fire would be detained, and he described the violence as contrary to the values of the Basque leader Aguirre.

“There are several hundred radical, organised people generating incidents, burning cars and containers in different parts of Bilbao, and this is intolerable, unacceptable.”

Bilbao mayor Juan Mari Aburto condemned the disorder and said the people responsible were not anti-fascists. The PP of the Basque Country and the PNV also issued condemnations on social media, with the PNV saying fascism should be fought through democracy rather than violence.

“They are not antifascists: they are authentic fascists.”

The Basque Security Department said the people causing the disorder appeared to have acted deliberately with the sole aim of causing disturbances.