Lleida City Council will increase joint police patrols in Parc de les Vies, Balàfia, Pardinyes and Clot after disturbances that began at about 10pm on Saturday, 15 August, on Avinguda Rosa Parks. For residents and shopkeepers in those areas, the planned operation means a greater visible presence of Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, and the Guàrdia Urbana, Lleida's municipal police.

According to a council communiqué reported by Europa Press on Monday, 17 August, the initial large-scale fight left four people injured, including one with a knife wound, and resulted in five detentions. RTVE reported that weekend incidents in the area left one person detained and five injured; the differing totals have not been reconciled in the reports.

“These are serious events which must be investigated to the end, and action must be taken firmly against those responsible,” Mayor Fèlix Larrosa said after meeting police commanders and neighbourhood associations.

Joint operation agreed for four areas

Larrosa said the new deployment would cover the park above the railway lines and the neighbourhoods of Balàfia, Pardinyes and Clot. The measures were agreed at a meeting attended by council representatives, Guàrdia Urbana and Mossos commanders, and neighbourhood associations.

  • Parc de les Vies
  • Balàfia
  • Pardinyes
  • Clot

The meeting also considered earlier mediation, detecting conflicts sooner and improving communication between public authorities, police forces and social organisations in the neighbourhoods, RTVE reported.

Mayor rejects collective blame

The mayor said the reported origin of the incidents pointed to personal conflicts. He said they should not be treated as an attack between communities, describing the alleged conduct as acts by a group of young people against a vulnerable group.

“Under no circumstances should an episode such as this be used to stigmatise or dehumanise entire communities,” Larrosa said.

Residents in Parc de les Vies, Balàfia, Pardinyes and Clot can expect the joint Mossos and Guàrdia Urbana operation announced by the council, while the serious incidents remain under investigation.

Reported by democrata.es, Redacció, Marc Guasch Ferreiro, europapress.es, elmundo.es, Sergi Tor.