The mayor of Oviedo now condemns the beating of two activists after presenting the aggressors as "kids" who were not "bad people"

The mayor of Oviedo, Alfredo Canteli, rectified this Wednesday and condemned the fascist aggression suffered by Rubén Rosón and Jorge Fernández during the San Mateo festivities. The statement came after several days of political and social pressure due to declarations in which the mayor reduced the beating to an "anecdote" and maintained that its perpetrators were "young lads" who probably weren't "such bad people".

The change in stance coincides with a significant advance in the investigation. The National Police has identified the alleged perpetrators of the attack and is now working to locate and arrest them. The Provincial Information Brigade of Asturias has taken charge of the investigation and, for the moment, they are attributed a crime of assault with injuries.

Canteli disseminated his new position through a statement sent to the media. "I strongly and unequivocally condemn any form of violence, physical or verbal, no matter where it comes from or who perpetrates it," he affirmed before expressing his support for the victims and their families.

His words leave behind the tone used last Sunday, when he asked to hear "both versions" of what happened and tried to downplay the seriousness of an aggression recorded on video. The images show several young people punching and kicking the two activists, even when one of them was already on the ground.

From "anecdote" to "emphatic" condemnation

The aggression occurred in the early hours of Friday in Oviedo's Cathedral square. Rubén Rosón, former councilor for Somos Oviedo, and Jorge Fernández, both doctors and members of the Asamblea Moza d'Asturies (AMA), were collaborating at a festival stand when a group of eight young people tried to tear down a rainbow flag and a banner with the slogan "Let racism not invade us."

According to the victims' account and the images released, the attackers uttered insults such as "faggots" and "fucking reds" before starting the beating. Afterwards, they left the place shouting "Arriba España". Rosón suffered a gash that required five stitches and Fernández lost consciousness during the attack. Both were treated at the Central University Hospital of Asturias.

The mayor's initial words provoked a wave of criticism that reached the Asturian Popular Party and its national leadership. The Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, urged Canteli to collaborate with the Police if he knew the young people he had spoken about with such certainty. The Minister of Health, Mónica García, also criticized him for presenting as "good lads" those who had given a beating amidst homophobic and fascist shouts.

The victims went to the PP of Asturias headquarters this Wednesday to demand that the regional leader, Álvaro Queipo, and the national president of the party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, publicly censure the mayor's words. Shortly after, Canteli's statement arrived.

Rosón and Fernández consider the rectification insufficient because the mayor has not expressly withdrawn his previous statements nor has he appeared before journalists. "It's not enough to hide now behind a read statement, drafted by Canteli's communication team, behind closed doors and without a public appearance or questions," AMA Asturies responded.

Police prepare arrests

The identification of the alleged aggressors has been based on the recordings of the attack and the proceedings carried out in recent days. The Superior Police Headquarters of Asturias has reported that investigators are working on their location, although it has not yet announced arrests or provided information about their identities.

Canteli had demanded in his official statement "the utmost speed and diligence" to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. By then, the police investigation had already advanced on facts clearly recorded on video and reported by the two victims.

The controversy has also reached the General Junta of the Principality. PSOE, Izquierda Unida and Somos have supported the censure of the mayor for minimizing an attack of a political and homophobic nature. The PP promoted an alternative text of general condemnation of violence, while Vox rejected both proposals and accused the left of using what happened as a "smokescreen."

AMA Asturies maintains the concentration called for this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Oviedo City Council. It will be the second mobilization against the aggression after the multitudinous protest held last weekend in the Cathedral square.