Lleida is at the centre of a police and court case after four people were arrested on Tuesday over an attack on residents in the Bordeta neighbourhood, who were trying to stop an occupation. Three of the four arrested, three men and one woman aged 18 to 21, have a combined 20 police records.
Two of the men and the woman have prior arrests. One man has ten, mostly for property crimes, including robberies with violence and intimidation, forced-entry robberies, vehicle break-ins, theft, vehicle theft and fraud. Another man has seven prior arrests for assault, theft and threats, and also has a restraining order against a woman. The woman has prior arrests for mistreatment, assaulting an authority figure and robbery.
All four suspects are expected to appear before a judge today. The case is being followed by Mossos d'Esquadra, who continued gathering information yesterday after the incident.
Lleida mayor Fèlix Larrosa said yesterday that the city council, the Paeria, will join the case as a private prosecutor. The Bordeta residents' association said it was outraged and called for more security. You can follow more local reporting on our news page.
Police sources said the violence caused surprise and consternation. They also said the fact the suspects left after an initial incident and returned minutes later with axes and sticks suggests an intent to cause harm. Two residents suffered contusions after being hit by a stone and a screwdriver handle.
Residents also complained about the police response time. Juanjo Gatius, president of the neighbourhood association, said the incident looked like a war and that the community would hold an assembly so residents could speak. He said the group wants to meet the mayor and will ask for more police control and surveillance from Mossos d'Esquadra and the Guàrdia Urbana.
The residents' association said yesterday afternoon that it wants to work to eradicate violence of any kind. Larrosa said the city must be forceful and that incidents like Tuesday's are unacceptable. He said the Paeria will act against public disorder and the breakdown of coexistence, while leaving the courts to decide the legal role of the council.