Valencia’s Falla Tomassos-Carles Cervera published a brief report detailing a brutal assault on a fallero that occurred in the early hours after a local festival. According to coverage in a print-digital edition from the Prensa Ibérica group, the incident began on the Sunday following the event as a 28- to 30-year-old man and a friend were walking along Filipinas street. They were robbed by four assailants who harassed and frightened them. One attacker hurled a bottle at the victims, causing the injured man to lose consciousness. The others then kicked him as he fell, sustaining a fractured jaw. The victim, who had served as a fallero with the commission for two years, was taken for surgery, though the outcome of the procedure was not successful.”
Serious injuries and a broken jaw
The victim remains hospitalized with serious injuries and a broken jaw, as stated by President Vicente Valero in an interview with Radio Valencia. Valero called on the National Police to identify the attackers promptly. Cadena SER reported that Valero described the incident as a troubling homophobic attack and urged greater police presence in the Russafa district, noting that this was not the first such incident in recent months. Fallers expressed solidarity by tying ribbons with the LGTBI flag and wished the victim a swift recovery. A message of support was also shared on the commission’s Facebook page, emphasizing communal care and the hope for the affected member to rejoin soon.”
The community response sparked widespread debate within the fallas world and drew comments from local authorities. Valencia’s mayor, Joan Ribó, along with Lucía Beamud, a council member for Equality and Inclusive Policies, and Lluïsa Notario, a central services council member and prominent LGTBI activist, condemned the attack. Ribó wrote on social media that Valencia would remain a diverse and free city and expressed full solidarity with the victim, while anticipating justice against those responsible.”
In a public post, Ribó reiterated the city’s commitment to diversity and freedom and called for decisive action to ensure safety for all residents. A separate statement from Pilar Lima, a Podem trustee and Valencia mayoral candidate, echoed the concern, describing the incident as another example of homophobic aggression and urging transparency and accountability for the LGTBI community. Lima affirmed solidarity with the victim and criticized attempts to minimize the impact of such acts.”
As the investigation continues, local officials and community leaders stress the importance of police vigilance and community support to prevent further violence and to protect the rights and dignity of all residents. The ongoing dialogue highlights the broader challenge of ensuring safety in urban neighborhoods and the need for coordinated responses from law enforcement and civic institutions. (Sources: Levante-EMV coverage via the Prensa Ibérica group; public statements from Valencia officials and media reports.)