According to the police, violence between youth gangs has become more common and brutal in Madrid. In the background, there are usually showdowns between different ethnic groups.
18:24•Updated 18:29
A 15-year-old youth was shot dead in Madrid on Sunday, probably as a result of a showdown between youth gangs, the police say.
In addition, a 21-year-old was seriously injured in the attack.
The matter has been reported by several Spanish media, such as La Vanguardia (you will switch to another service) and El País (you will switch to another service).
According to the media, the shooting incident took place in a park in the Villaverde district. A person wearing a hood killed a 15-year-old with a firearm and wounded a 21-year-old. The shooter fled the scene.
Madrid City Council representative Mercedes Gonzalez said La Vanguardia, according to the publication, that it is likely a dispute between gangs of Latino background.
According to González, the victim may have belonged to the local Los Trinitarios gang, which had a feud with the Dominican Don’t Play gang.
González said at a city news conference Monday that the use of firearms in gang confrontations is extremely rare, but the use of sharp weapons such as machetes in fights is common.
The murders led to a cycle of revenge
According to the local police, violence between youth gangs is increasing and the number of victims has tripled compared to last year.
Measured in cases, it is still a matter of individual deaths. The death over the weekend is the sixth in the Madrid region this year.
According to the police, the clashes have gotten worse recently and seem to have elements of revenge.
On New Year’s Day, a 19-year-old Ecuadorian was killed in the Villaverde district.
In February, a 15-year-old was stabbed in the heart during a fight in front of a nightclub. A 25-year-old also died in the same fight. In addition, three people were injured.
In October, a member of the Dominican Don’t Play gang was shot in front of the nightclub door.
According to a report prepared by the security authority, there are at least seven youth gangs operating in the Madrid area. The police have reason to suspect that the gangs are selling weapons and ammunition in the street shop, reports a local media (you switch to another service) in February.
Last year, the city of Madrid made an action plan to eradicate youth crime.
According to El País, since the action plan was drawn up, the police have arrested 1,399 young people. Those arrested have been connected to street gangs in one way or another. 95 percent of the young people have been men and 37 percent have been minors.
According to government representative González, there are about 500 active members in the youth gangs in the Madrid area. After the action plan was drawn up, the number of active youth Norwegians is said to have decreased.