Spanish police detain 16 for hate crimes

The Spanish Interior Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that police have detained 16 individuals in Madrid for a series of hate crimes and other offences.

The 16 are all members of a group which has a far right-wing ideology and among whom are members of Real Madrid's Ultras Sur and Atletico Madrid's Frente Atletico, radical supporters groups.

They are accused of a total of 40 different offences, among which are 'participating in mass brawls', 'threats', 'public disorder', 'damage to property', 'robbery with violence' and 'intimidation,' as well as 'other crimes against fundamental rights.'

The police discovered numerous blade weapons, clubs, electric pistols and personal defense sprays during their raid, as well as many extreme right wing symbols.

The police report they had detected a "significant increase in violent actions carried out by groups which promote hatred and violence," in "recent months," adding that it was "common practice," for this extreme right wing group to carry out attacks against youngsters with "different ideologies."

The Interior Ministry defines "hate crimes" as those which are "incidents aimed at one or more people motivated by prejudice, based on race, ethnic origin, country of birth, religion or beliefs, sexual identity or orientation, situation of social exclusion, handicap or any other social or personal circumstance." Endit