Managers of several cafés on the Born promenade in Palma had to remove outdoor seating and shelter numerous tourists inside due to the aggressive behaviour of violent groups that acted after Sunday’s protest.
The investigation into the disturbances recorded at the end of last Sunday’s protest in Palma has taken a new step. The National Police have gathered testimonies from merchants on the Born promenade who described moments of genuine panic when, once the march had ended, several groups of individuals began to intimidate tourists and passers-by.
According to sources close to the investigation, the managers of at least three cafés on the Born reported to the officers that they were forced to hurriedly collect the outdoor furniture and shelter dozens of customers, mostly tourists, who did not understand why they were being shouted at.
The testimonies describe scenes of fear and uncertainty. Employees and owners locked the doors of their businesses while outside there were running, shouting, and insults. Some customers, completely unaware of the protest, sought protection without understanding what was happening, according to the same sources.
“We had never experienced a situation like this on a day of protest. The atmosphere was one of true terror for several minutes,” the merchants consulted assure.
The episodes occurred once the protest had concluded, when most of the attendees had already left the area. It was then that small groups began to move through the historic centre, engaging in acts of intimidation and attacks against people who had nothing to do with the protest.
The police investigation suggests that these incidents were not spontaneous. Initial conclusions indicate that an organised group of violent individuals infiltrated the final stretch of the mobilization with the aim of provoking confrontations with the National Police and generating an image of chaos that overshadowed the peaceful development of the march.
The officers believe there was prior planning to disrupt the protest through coordinated actions. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that the vast majority of attendees participated peacefully and did not engage in any incidents during the route.
Sources close to the investigation assert that the alleged perpetrators are fully identified thanks to the analysis of images captured by police drones, surveillance cameras in central Palma, and recordings from the officers themselves. This is further supported by complaints filed by merchants, individuals, and eyewitnesses.
The police report, which is currently being prepared, will soon be sent to both the judicial authority and the Government Delegation. Investigators expect that once the proceedings are concluded and the participation of each individual is documented, arrests of those responsible will be made.
For the residents and merchants of the Born area, these events represent a blow to the image of safety in the area. The association of merchants in the historic centre has expressed concern about the impact these episodes may have on tourism activity, the main economic driver of the city.
Meanwhile, the National Police continues to take statements from those affected and analyse audiovisual material circulated on social media. Significant progress in identifying those involved is expected in the coming days.
The Palma City Council has shown its support for the merchants and condemned the events, although it refers to the police investigation to determine responsibilities. The affected establishments have resumed their activities normally, although some employees acknowledge that the tension experienced is still very present.
The investigation remains open and new arrests are not ruled out. Authorities are calling on anyone who witnessed the events or has images to provide them to the National Police, in order to facilitate the identification of those responsible.
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