Vito Quiles holds event without permit at Málaga law school

Activist Vito Quiles held an event without a permit near Málaga university's law school on Tuesday. A large police force kept his backers apart from a group that had come to protest against him.

Quiles spoke through a megaphone after the local government office refused to take in his request for the rally. The school had not let him use the site.

Why the rally had no permit

The local government office said the request had several flaws. It arrived too late, gave no reason for haste and did not go through the right route.

That meant staff could not tell who was in charge of the rally. The papers also lacked a permit from the university, which owns the land.

University staff said the request came late on Monday and looked like a copy of one used in Pamplona.

The school brought in more guards, shut part of the car park and kept the building for staff and students. They had to show a QR code to get in.

Police sent around thirty officers, about ten vans and a helicopter, while Quiles had four private guards.

Different counts for Quiles's crowd

The reports did not agree on how many people came to hear Quiles. Two put his crowd at about 100, while one cited a police count of about 200.

Some backers wore SALF shirts or carried Spanish flags and flags with the Cross of Burgundy.

About 100 people gathered nearby to protest. One report said Acción Antifascista had called that rally.

In his speech, Quiles spoke against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Transport Minister Óscar Puente and the university. Reports said he insulted politicians and the press, and he urged a vote in the 29 November election.

Both sides traded chants as police stood between them. The mood grew tense when Quiles moved towards the rival group after his speech.

Police formed a line between the two sides and stopped road traffic for a short time. No one was hurt, and there was no serious disorder, Málaga Hoy said.

Sources: El Español, Málaga Hoy and Diario Sur.