The Fiscalía Superior de la Región de Murcia opened a criminal investigation on 15 July into José Ángel Antelo, regional president of the far-right Vox party, to determine whether his recent public statements and social-media posts about unrest in the town of Torre Pacheco constitute a hate crime. The probe, to be led by the region’s delegated prosecutor for hate offences, Miguel Ángel Aguilar, was triggered by formal complaints filed by PSOE, Izquierda Unida and Podemos. Investigators will review Antelo’s speeches and online messages, as well as widely circulated calls for a “caza del inmigrante”, which the prosecutor’s office has described as potentially criminal. Torre Pacheco has experienced several nights of racially charged violence since an alleged assault on a 68-year-old man by three youths of Maghreb origin. Police say at least 13 people have been arrested, and authorities blame extremist chat groups for spreading false videos and organising neighbourhood patrols that have forced businesses to close. Antelo, who told supporters over the weekend that migrants involved in crime "will be deported", denies any wrongdoing and argues that Vox is exercising legitimate free speech. He accuses Spain’s mainstream parties of allowing uncontrolled immigration and predicts the case will be dismissed.