Two days after a 41-year-old Chinese woman was fatally stabbed in Esplugues de Llobregat, neighbors and relatives rallied for more security. Officials describe the Maghrebi attacker as emotionally imbalanced, ruling out jihadism or gender violence.
Following the fatal stabbing of a 41-year-old Chinese woman on Joan Miró street in Esplugues' Finestrelles neighborhood on Saturday, May 2—initially reported with the prompt arrest of the suspect—new details have emerged.
The victim, who had lived in the area for a year, worked locally and studied Spanish, with family in China. The mid-40s Maghrebi-origin attacker inflicted multiple wounds to her neck and torso before fleeing with a large knife. Mossos arrested him an hour later on Barcelona's Diagonal.
Interior councillor Núria Parlon stated on Catalunya Ràdio that there are no jihadist links: "A priori es una persona que estaba en una situación alterada y probablemente con algún tipo de problemática que nada tiene que ver con el yihadismo." She attributed it to the man's "emotional imbalance and even some kind of breakdown." Neighbor José Luis confronted the attacker, suffering minor injuries.
On Monday, May 4, around 300 locals and Chinese community members protested outside the town hall, demanding "more information" and security: "Tenemos miedo, queremos más seguridad." Mayor Eduard Sanz held a minute of silence at 6 p.m., joined by Govern delegate Pilar Díaz.
Opposition figures PP and Vox criticized the Govern; Vox's Ignacio Garriga called for Parlon's resignation and labeled it "islamist criminality," despite official denials. The Chinese community plans another meeting with the mayor on Wednesday to follow the investigation.
