In the early hours of Saturday, in Getxo (Bizkaia) a plain-clothes patrol of the Ertzaintza was attacked by a group of young people. According to the Departamento de Seguridad of the Gobierno Vasco the attackers threw objects at the police vehicle and shouted insults, including “zipaios”. The regional authority condemned the incident immediately and expressed its solidarity with the officers involved.
The Ertzaintza has set up an investigation team to identify the suspected perpetrators and examine whether offences may have been committed. No details of any arrests were initially available. Available video footage and witness statements are also being reviewed. The security authority stressed that attacks on police officers were attacks on public order and would be pursued consistently.
The incident is part of a series of verbal and, in some cases, physical attacks on police officers in the Basque Country recorded in several municipalities in recent months. Graffiti and threatening messages targeting the Ertzaintza have sparked public debate in some cases. police unions see this as a sign of growing aggression towards law enforcement and are calling for stronger preventive measures, adequate staffing and faster investigations. Opposition parties They are also calling for clear political signals against all forms of violence.
The regional government says the Ertzaintza has increased its presence at major events and known gathering places and is deploying more plain-clothes patrols. No specific additional measures for Getxo had been announced by Saturday. For now, the investigation is focused on securing evidence and examining information from the public.
What is confirmed is the location (Getxo in the province of Bizkaia), the involvement of the Ertzaintza and the prompt condemnation by the Departamento de Seguridad of the Gobierno Vasco. Questions remain about the exact number of attackers, possible motives and the precise sequence of events. The authorities are urging people to avoid speculation until the evidence has been reviewed.
The attack in Getxo has brought fresh impetus to debate about how to address violence against emergency personnel in the Basque Country. While the investigation continues, the security authorities’ priority is to identify those responsible while maintaining a presence at key locations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).