A group of La Villa Arriba de La Orotava residents, specifically from Calle Buenaventura Machado Melián (formerly known as Calle Duque) and the surrounding areas, have informed DIARIO DE AVISOS about the incidents that occurred over the weekend. A group of masked individuals targeted young Moroccan migrants (of legal age) living in a squat on the mentioned street. The residents and some family members are expressing their frustration over the lack of police presence and the recurrence of the attacks on Sunday, despite the prior incident being reported to the local authorities.
According to the concerned neighbours, who are deeply troubled by the escalating situation and perceive it as a hate crime, the initial attack on Saturday involved approximately 7 or 8 masked individuals (their ages unknown, although presumed to be young). By Sunday, the situation had escalated, with a stone-throwing confrontation ensuing as the migrants defended themselves against the aggression. As a consequence, a window of the house was shattered, as depicted in the accompanying photo.
The residents are increasingly anxious about the situation and are particularly unsettled by the unusual events unfolding in what is typically a tranquil area, known as Villa Arriba (Cuatro Esquinas, Calle Nueva, Cruz del Teide…). The neighbourhood is predominantly inhabited by elderly residents, with several abandoned properties present, including the one occupied by the young migrants (some of whom transitioned from juvenile centres, as per sources).
The concerned residents condemning the racist attacks claim that the house is owned by an elderly woman residing in Santa Cruz, who has neither reported the situation nor demonstrated any interest in the property. Regardless of her rights to the property, the neighbours are distressed by the evident display of racial animosity and xenophobia which they believe should not be tolerated. They are calling for increased police presence and regular monitoring, as the masked assailants, reminiscent of scenes from different eras and regions (such as the Southern USA), acted with impunity and engaged in a stone-throwing altercation with the young residents, who retaliated in kind.
Local officials confirmed to the newspaper yesterday that “an altercation occurred outside an occupied house”, clarifying that it was not an all-out confrontation. They stated that “units of the Local Police and the Civil Guard promptly arrived at the scene, quickly dispersing the individuals, with the latter taking charge of identifying the culprits”.
