Angry crowd throws sticks, cans and mud: Spanish royal couple’s visit to Paiporta suspended

The visit of the Spanish royal couple to Paiporta, which was hit by floods, got completely out of hand on Sunday. They were pelted with mud, sticks and bottles by locals and called “murderers”.

Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, together with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and local President Carlos Mazón, attempted to visit the hard-hit Paiporta on Sunday.

But that visit was suspended when the situation got out of hand. The royal couple was surrounded and the atmosphere became very grim. Residents of the municipality threw mud, water bottles and sticks at the royal couple.

They were booed in the street and called “murderers”. Also “Go away!”, “Help us!”, “Mazón resign!” and “Pedro Sánchez resign!” were hurled at their heads. The king tried to talk to some young people, but was eventually led away to a car to safety. According to Spanish media, he then tried again to chat with local residents, but he and his entourage were then led away from Paiporta. (Read more below the photo)

Paiporta may be the municipality most affected by the weather phenomenon DANA. At least more than 60 people have died in Paiporta and the municipality was cut off from the rest of the country for days.

The local population is said to be angry and indignant about the lack of official assistance in the region. They feel that the official authorities are abandoning them, the newspaper writes The Country.

At least one person is said to have been injured during the chaos that arose during the visit of the royal couple and his entourage.