Overview
- Plainclothes Policía Nacional officers assisted a frightened man and later intercepted and detained five young people, including two minors, after reported attacks in the Turia riverbed.
- Authorities say at least three men were targeted that night with homophobic insults, pepper spray and attempts to steal phones.
- The five suspects were processed for alleged hate crimes and robbery; the arrested were released after initial procedures and the minors were handed to their parents following notification of the Fiscalía de Menores.
- Police are asking victims and witnesses to file formal complaints and to provide exact wording of insults, clothing descriptions or tattoos and any video or photo evidence to help build cases.
- LGBTQI+ activists warn that the Turia cruising area's anonymity keeps many victims from reporting and that community alerts on social media are being used to warn users ahead of the Gay Games in València.