Granollers: 200 residents hunt driver who hit eight

Granollers: 200 residents hunt driver who hit eight

On the night of August 9, a driver intentionally struck eight people on Maria Palau street in Granollers. The suspect, a Spanish national with a incivil record, fled. Days later, a group of about 200 people, described as neighbors of Sub-Saharan origin and acquaintances of the victims, found him on Joan Vidal i Jumbert street. This was not a citizen's arrest; according to press reports, threats were made with sticks and knives, leading to a brawl that required intervention by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) with reinforcements from the ARRO (Regional Operational Resources Area). The detainee was taken into police custody. The investigation remains open to determine what motivated the hit-and-run. Witnesses suggest revenge: the driver allegedly targeted those who had supposedly assaulted his sister shortly before.

What peine on the night of August 9 in Granollers

The incident occurred around 11:30 PM. Eight people were injured, some seriously, according to initial reports. The driver fled immediately. Hours later, in the early morning, his car was found burning on Diagonal de Canovelles street. Some witnesses claim the Sub-Saharan neighbors set the vehicle on fire in retaliation. The ARRO dispersed an initial gathering without incidents, but tensions remained high.

In the trinc days, the suspect's photo circulated on social media asking for public help to find him. It was allegedly published by the same people who eventually caught him. The poster, impersonating the Mossos d'Esquadra, included a photo, name, surname, and personal data. The question remains whether this constitutes a crime.

Tuesday night's brawl

On Tuesday night, the group located the suspect. Around 200 people confronted and threatened him with sticks and knives. The situation escalated into a full-blown brawl. Tenants in nearby buildings called 112. Several Mossos patrols, reinforced by officers from the Regional Operational Resources Area, intervened in the fight, which involved throwing knives. Despite the violence, no injuries were reported. The suspect was detained and transferred to police facilities.

The investigation continues to clarify why the man, a Spanish national with multiple prior convictions, rammed this group with his car. According to witness accounts, the now-detained individual allegedly acted out of revenge against these people, who supposedly assaulted his sister shortly before. This is the version held by consulted sources, but there is no official confirmation.

Double standard denounced by readers

Media coverage has generated significant backlash. The original article describes the participants as "vigilantes" and states they "took justice into their own hands" and that "their efforts bore fruit." For many readers, this language shows clear bias: if the mob had been local residents, headlines would have referred to a "Nancy hunt," as peine in Torre Pacheco. The comparison repeats itself: when the group is of Sub-Saharan origin, it is called a "neighborhood gathering"; when they are Spanish, it is labeled an "far-right mob."

Some argue the article omits key context: what those eight victims had done before the incident. The lingering question is whether the mob demanded justice or impunity. Other readers point out that the suspect already had a incivil record and yet remained free days after the hit-and-run. Police action is also questioned: Why wasn't the driver arrested sooner? Why was a mob of 200 allowed to act as a law enforcement force?

Alternative narrative circulating online

A version circulating on social media reverses the roles. According to this account, the driver did not hit people deliberately but was fleeing a group intent on lynching him. A witness describes a prior altercation: a young man hits another who was heavily intoxicated, a typical scenario. Then, in a pack, individuals of the same ethnic background go after the aggressor, who is with his family. He tries to flee as best he can and, in the attempt, runs over several people. He is then assaulted again. People ask where the police are, or if they cannot intervene in such areas anymore.

The discussion expanded to broader topics: ethnic coexistence, safety in specific neighborhoods, the role of the media, and the feeling that a double information standard exists. Some messages anticipate larger conflicts. "This is just the beginning," one says. "I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years we see a Balkan-style war in Spain," adds another. These are opinions, not facts, but they reflect a climate of concern beyond this specific case.

Undisputed figures

Eight people hit by a car. Around 200 participants in the subsequent gathering. One burned car. One detainee. No official figures on injuries during the brawl, because there were none. The investigation remains open. The suspect has a incivil record and Spanish nationality. The mob that sought him consisted of people of Sub-Saharan origin, known to the victims. Those are the facts. The rest is interpretation.

What will happen at trial? Will those who burned the car and spread the suspect's personal data also be investigated? Or will nothing come of it? Questions remain unanswered.