Spanish Investigative Reporter Uses Video to Identify His Attackers

September 18, 2025 – Spain – 

Spanish journalist Román Cuesta, a reporter for the left-wing online newspaper Diario Red, has used video evidence from his own assault to successfully identify those responsible. The 40-year-old investigative journalist was attacked outside his home in Salamanca on August 27, 2025. In a video circulated on social media, a man is seen pepper-spraying Cuesta while a woman records the incident and verbally insults him.

After the attack, Cuesta applied open-source investigation methods and published detailed analyses in Diario Red. He identified both the man who posted the video and another individual who carried out surveillance before the assault.  Previously, Cuesta had already been a target of repeated threats because of his exposure of far-right networks and anonymous social media accounts. His reporting has made him a figure of interest and concern among extremist groups in Spain.

Two days following Cuesta’s publication of the identities, Salamanca police confirmed they had taken statements from the people he named. However, as of the time of the report, none of the individuals had been officially charged. Authorities have not announced arrests.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Spanish law enforcement to pursue the leads provided by Cuesta. Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative, emphasized that the assault is “a stark reminder of the growing threats facing journalists covering far-right networks in Spain,” and urged that investigations be swift and transparent.

Cuesta’s case underscores both the dangers faced by investigative journalists in increasingly polarized media environments and the power of citizen journalism and open-source tools to hold attackers to account. It also raises important questions about protecting press freedom, the adequacy of police response, and the risks faced by those exposing extremist activity.

Reference – 

Attack on journalist’s home in Paraguay

Spanish journalist Román Cuesta uses video of his assault to identify his assailants