Riots in Bilbao as protesters oppose Vito Quiles campus event; Quiles cancels talk

Mixed · 2Riots broke out in Bilbao, in Spain's Basque Country, on Monday 26 October during protests against a planned appearance by right-wing activist and influencer Vito Quiles at the University of Deusto, scheduled for 7pm. 1 2 Left · 1The Daily Mirror reported that at least six cars and a Bilbao Municipal Police motorcycle were set alight, citing local media, and that hooded individuals crossed containers and launched flares; firefighters put out the fires while the Ertzaintza, the Basque regional police, moved through the streets to disperse participants. 1 Mixed · 2Breitbart reported that the Ertzaintza said it arrested 19 people, and described activists and students setting cars on fire, looting shops and destroying street furniture; the Mirror's earlier report said at least nine people had been arrested. 2 1

Mixed · 2Earlier in the day, around 2,000 mostly students attended an afternoon march, according to Breitbart citing public broadcaster RTVE; the Mirror said thousands of students marched through central Bilbao in a demonstration called by the group Ikasle Antolakunde Sozialista, and that clashes between hooded individuals and police began by the afternoon. 2 1 Left · 1The university suspended all activity at 2pm and closed its campus at 3pm, according to the Mirror. 1 Mixed · 2Quiles said on X that the head of the Ertzaintza security operation had warned him of a "very high" risk of incidents, and that because "former ETA members, street-level terrorists, and other criminals" were leading the protests, the talk was called off; this is his claim, and the coverage does not independently verify who led the protests. 1 2

Mixed · 2Quiles said he would return to Bilbao after giving protesters "the response they deserve on November 29th", the date of Spain's general election, according to the Mirror; Breitbart quoted him saying "See you on Wednesday in Valencia." 1 2 Right · 1Breitbart reported that Bilbao mayor Juan Mari Aburto of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) said the rioters "are not anti-fascist; they are authentic fascists" and expressed sympathy for those whose shops were looted or vehicles burned, and that Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo condemned a "new attempt to intimidate the violent left". 2 Right · 1Breitbart placed the unrest two nights after riots in Barcelona in which it said 128 people were arrested; the Mirror did not mention these. 2