On July 21st, the National Police arrested five individuals, one of whom was an off-duty officer. The incident took place in an establishment in the Simancas neighborhood, within the San Blas-Canillejas district, after the World Cup final. Reports indicate that the detainees verbally harassed the PSOE spokesperson for the Madrid City Council, Reyes Maroto, while she was celebrating the Spanish national team's victory with other party members.
The incident occurred at the local socialist headquarters, where Maroto was with colleagues to watch the match. Sources close to the spokesperson stated that several individuals recognized her and directed insults towards her, the PSOE, and the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. Maroto downplayed the event, highlighting the intervention of the bar staff and other patrons to maintain the festive atmosphere.
According to the PSOE, the altercation began at the end of the match when a group of socialist militants and officials posed for a photograph with a Spanish flag. The same individuals who had been shouting insults then criticized them for carrying the flag, leading to a verbal dispute. After the socialists requested police presence, officers arrived at the scene.
The officers proceeded to arrest five people, including the off-duty police officer, on charges of hate crimes against the leader of Madrid's socialists, according to police sources. Maroto's circle emphasized the "exemplary" conduct of the responding officers, as well as the bar owners and patrons. An assaulted militant has filed a complaint and is awaiting a summons to testify.
Police sources indicated that these arrests were part of a total of seven detentions reported by the Government Delegation in Madrid, separate from the official celebrations of the Spanish national team in the capital's streets.
