Escalating Criticism Over Police Brutality in the Basque Country

• Public concern is mounting over the Basque Government's handling of police conduct following a series of incidents involving lethal force and questionable interventions.
• Recent deaths and severe injuries have sparked a structural debate regarding the use of weaponry and the management of mental health crises by local security forces.

Key Incidents and Controversies

• Death of Ander Sáenz: In Santurtzi, police utilized a taser on Sáenz; his family asserts that the failure to disclose the taser use to emergency services resulted in a two-hour delay in critical medical care.
• Death of Babacar Welle: A 42-year-old man with a history of mental health issues was fatally shot by local police in Hondarribia during an encounter where he was armed with a knife.
• Foam Projectile Misuse: Despite being marketed as a safer alternative, foam projectiles have caused severe injuries, such as the facial trauma suffered by 16-year-old Xuhar Pazos in 2024. Other victims include Amaya Zabarte and Iker Arana, who suffered life-altering injuries due to projectile misuse.
• Airport Confrontation: The Ertzaintza faced heavy criticism for a violent intervention at Loiu Airport against peaceful activists, using baton strikes on demonstrators in a closed space.

Institutional Response and Critique

• Security Minister Bingen Zupiria has been accused of avoiding accountability by hiding behind ongoing judicial proceedings rather than addressing systemic flaws.
• Advocacy groups, including SOS Racismo and victim support platforms, demand independent oversight and a moratorium on weapons like tasers, citing a culture of impunity that prioritizes police protection over civil rights and mental health de-escalation.