Castrillo Mota de Judíos is a town steeped in history with few neighbors. In 2014, residents voted to end a painful antisemitic misunderstanding. The surname was restored to reflect the town’s past, and the people have since faced dozens of threats and insults, including seven neo-Nazi attacks. The attackers mostly arrived from Madrid by car at dawn.
The latest three Spanish antisemitists arrested by the Civil Guard share a striking profile: two men and one woman, all over 30, from comfortable means, who lead double lives with daytime activities and even marijuana cultivation. One suspect, from Las Rozas near Madrid, is connected to a Facebook group called Christians against Israel.
The Mayor Was Sold To The Jews
At the town hall gate and in front of the former Inquisition headquarters, vandals left the message mayor sold to a murderer Jew. The town’s entrance was changed to the anti-Semitic surname Castrillo Matajudíos.
Mayor Lawrence Rodriguez explains the origin of the town name, describing a long history of prejudice. In 1035, Fernando I forced Jews to leave the country, and the settlement atop La Mota hill eventually received the name Castrillo Mota de Judíos. It was renamed Castrillo Matajudíos in the 16th century.
The change in name is tied to a local musician and historical figure, Antonio de Cabezón, a chamber musician for Carlos V and Felipe II. His will from 1566 notes a birthplace of De Cabezón Matajudíos, possibly to honor him or prevent misunderstandings during a period of persecution.
Franco and Fraga
The misunderstanding persisted into the 20th century. Manual Fraga, a Francoist minister in 1964, oversaw decisions affecting the town name. The information and tourism ministry adjusted the name to Castrillo de Cabezon, though the change did not endure and the town briefly returned to Matajudíos.
In 2014, the community voted to restore the original name. Yet, individuals from Madrid who held neo-Nazi views, identifying with a faction known as the castizos, carried out acts under the banner of a Palestinian cause. On May 1, 2016, two people faced charges for spray painting signs that converted the name from Castrillo Mota to Castrillo Matajudíos, adding a cross associated with far-right symbolism.
Phalange and National Democracy
The Civil Guard responded when vandals damaged a wall near the site of a former service station on the A-1, leaving graffiti that proclaimed defending Europe. They carried eight cans of paint, two packs of MSR stickers, and Christmas greetings tied to the same act, according to CASE OPEN documents. The two men now await trial at Burgos Court, with the prosecutor seeking around 30 months in prison for both. One defendant had previously run for Castilla y León Cortes in 2003 for Salamanca’s phalanx and later aligned with National Democracy in 2007 at Tardajos, Burgos.
more violence
In 2020 and 2021, new graffiti appeared in Castrillo until a serious incident occurred: a neighbor described a late-night attempt to set a cellar on fire, an act attributed to a local mayor and deputy. Civil Guard sources note that the attackers escalated violence after previously damaging street furniture.
The most recent attacks occurred in summer 2021 and winter 2022, with graffiti targeting the town and its Jewish heritage, including the star of David. Those responsible, two men and a woman from affluent Madrid-area towns like Las Rozas and Algete, were arrested in early October. They were in their 30s, well employed, and one was even linked to indoor marijuana cultivation.
An officer from the Civil Guard notes the apparent contradiction in the suspects, who hold stable jobs yet commit crimes outside working hours. The officer emphasizes that these acts reflect a broader, darker ideological current, not personal grievances alone.
The other five attacks
These three Nazis targeted Castrillo Mota de Judíos in acts of vandalism but did not identify themselves as a group. Five additional antisemitic attacks occurred in Madrid, including two at the Hoyo de Manzanares Jewish Cemetery and graffiti denying the Holocaust on walls. Other hate messages included anti-Jewish and anti-Israel slurs.
Across the Atlantic, incidents touched communities in the United States at Villanueva de la Canada Synagogue, Alcobendas Jewish Cultural Center, and Almudena Cemetery, with anti-Semitic graffiti and insults directed at public figures such as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Analysts note writing style patterns that helped identify the same individuals across locations. The sprays were found at a detainee’s Las Rozas home, and investigators recovered tools that suggested a coordinated effort.
against Florentino Perez
Investigators found materials linked to extremist propaganda, including Mein Kampf and books about Mussolini, along with numerous Nazi stickers and memorabilia and football scarves. Insults targeted Florentino Pérez, president of a major football club, who had previously expelled Ultra Sur from the stadium.
The Civil Guard now tracks three Spanish Nazis with overseas connections. They do not appear to belong to a formal group or to have a complete manifestos archive on Nazi platforms. The investigation notes limited ideological writings and notes of future targets remain unclear, though the case points to a pattern of extremist activity.
According to the Civil Guard, the Madrid extremists did not display broad intellectual aims. A misspelled reference to Auschwitz appeared in graffiti, underscoring the lack of careful planning among the group.
In another graffiti instance, the word Auschwitz was misspelled as auswitch, then found at a Madrid home and workplace.
Following the Perinola – Lienzo operation, neighbors enjoy peace again. Street remnants of the Jewish town remain near the church of San Esteban, with a few columns from the old synagogue. A new monument to the town’s Jewish history is planned for November 8. The mayor aims to advance the city’s history, especially its closeness to the Camino de Santiago. Two more children now play on the streets, twice the number that existed before the original name emerged, with families arriving who feel at home in the area.