Police hunt irregular migrant after lawyer shot in El Ejido, Spain

Lawyer shot in El Ejido: police hunt Maghreb suspect living in Spain irregularly

What do we know about the attack that has shaken the legal community in Almería? Last Wednesday, a 28-year-old lawyer was shot in the street in El Ejido, just minutes after leaving a court hearing. What was initially attributed to an air rifle has turned out to be a .32 calibre firearm, according to police sources. The victim remains in the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitario Poniente.

Law enforcement are searching for a suspect of Maghreb origin who is in Spain irregularly, a detail that has reignited the debate over safety in the area. The legal profession, increasingly exposed to assaults, is calling for protection measures similar to those enjoyed by other public authorities.

Not an air rifle after all

The investigation took a turn when it was confirmed that the projectile came from a .32 calibre handgun, raising the seriousness of the incident. The lawyer, who specialises in incivil law, had just left a court hearing when an individual shot her at close range. Medical services stabilised her and rushed her to hospital. The Policía Nacional (Spanish national police) is maintaining an active search operation.

A high-risk profession

The CSIF union has pointed out that lawyers are frequently assaulted and is demanding that they be granted the status of public authority so they can access greater resources. "We should be given protection like judges, prosecutors or doctors," the union argues. The El Ejido case is an extreme example, but not an isolated one: according to figures from the Consejo General de la Abogacía (Spain's bar council), assaults on lawyers rose by 20% over the past two years.

A suspect feeding polarisation

The search for the alleged attacker, described as a Maghreb national living in Spain irregularly, has drawn mixed reactions. While some point to the need for migration controls, others warn against stigmatisation. What is clear is that the case highlights insecurity in certain court environments, regardless of the suspect's profile. The lawyer remains in intensive care and her prognosis is guarded.

With these ingredients, the El Ejido incident is not only an attack on a professional but a reflection of the tensions running through public safety and the migration debate. Polls, if there were any, would show a divide that is hard to close.