Disturbances in Bilbao: 200 people attack Ertzaintza during Aste Nagusia with 14 arrests
The final night of the Big Week ended with serious clashes in Abando: 14 arrests, five minors, and several officers injured following a mass bottle-throwing incident.
Bottle attacks on the Ertzaintza at the close of Bilbao's Aste Nagusia
The final early morning of Bilbao's Aste Nagusia ended with 14 arrests and several officers injured following two episodes of violence in the Abando neighbourhood, according to El Mundo reporting with data from the Basque Department of Security.
The most serious incident occurred around 5.20 hours, when a call alerted the Basque police to a large-scale fight in the area. Upon arrival, patrols encountered a group of around 200 people who began throwing bottles and other objects at the officers. The intensity of the projectiles forced the ertzainas to regroup and deploy riot control equipment, including protective shields, until they managed to disperse those involved.
That first clash resulted in 12 arrests for alleged public disorder: five minors aged between 15 and 17 years old and seven adults aged between 18 and 34. According to El Correo, several of those arrested already had police records or previous investigations. As for their origin, two were of Maghrebi descent and the rest were Spanish. Additionally, several officers were injured with contusions and incised-contused lesions, and a police vehicle suffered significant damage.
Just 40 minutes later, a second confrontation erupted also in Abando. On this occasion it was Bilbao's Municipal Police that requested support from the Ertzaintza. The officers who responded used, according to the Department of Security, "proportionate force" and arrested two other young men aged 19. A 17-year-old minor was additionally issued with a report under the Citizen Security Act, bringing the total balance for the early morning to 14 arrests.
The disturbances prompted an immediate response from the police union ESAN, which conveyed its "fullest support and recognition" to the ertzainas and municipal police officers involved. "Bottle attacks, insults and assaults against our police officers is not celebration, it is violence," denounced its spokesperson, Iñaki Uraga. The union also demanded legislative changes to strengthen the protection of officers. "Attacking an ertzaina or an udaltzaina cannot go unpunished," warned Uraga.
The Basque Government condemned the attacks and demanded that "lack of respect and violence" against those working to guarantee security not be normalised. "Celebration and different forms of consumption should never be used as justification for violent behaviour," stated the Department of Security.
Bilbao's mayor, Juan Mari Aburto, showed "complete" support for both police forces and wished a swift recovery for those injured. Aburto described as "impeccable" the work carried out during the nine days of celebrations and highlighted that their performance had been "intense, proactive and essential" for the normal progress of the festivities.
Source: El Mundo