Spanish Reporter Assaulted by Masked Protesters During Pamplona Clashes

November 04, 2025 – Spain – 

Veteran journalist José Ismael Martínez was violently targeted by a group of masked individuals while covering a protest on the campus of the University of Navarra in Pamplona on October 30. Martínez, working for the online outlet El Español and wearing a press badge, had been filming a gathering of far-left demonstrators when five or six hooded attackers surrounded him. They hurled objects, isolated him from his colleagues, cornered him, and kicked him while he was on the ground. Martínez eventually sought refuge with nearby riot police and was later treated for eye injuries.

The protest had erupted after a planned event by a far-right speaker was cancelled amid security concerns. Despite the cancellation, demonstrators assembled and clashed with law-enforcement officers; three arrests were made, and several officers were injured. Martínez’s assault underlines the risks faced by press professionals even in relatively stable European democracies when covering volatile static environments.

Both the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Council of Europe – Platform for the Protection of Journalists have issued appeals to Spanish authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, identify the perpetrators, and ensure Martinez and his peers are safeguarded in future reporting scenarios. CPJ Europe’s regional representative stated that the assault must not stand unpunished and stressed that public officials should condemn violence against journalists unequivocally.

Martínez’s experience echoes wider concerns about the increasingly hazardous conditions under which journalists operate when covering protests and confrontations. Independent reporting during such events is pivotal for public information and accountability, yet the boundary between observer and participant can blur abruptly when journalists are singled out for aggression. The incident calls attention to the need for clearer protocols, both from event organisers and security services, to protect journalists in high-tension zones.

Reference – 

Masked protesters attack Spanish journalist during clashes with police

https://fom.coe.int/en/alerte/detail/107643161

https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/11/press-group-urges-spain-authorities-to-investigate-attacks-on-journalist-by-far-left-protesters/