Serigne Mbaye

Serigne Mbaye, a former deputy in the Madrid Assembly for Podemos and a spokesperson for the 'manteros' union (street vendors), was recently arrested in Madrid's Usera district. The arrest occurred following an altercation with National Police officers, resulting in minor injuries to five officers. Mbaye was detained along with six other individuals. According to police reports, Mbaye was particularly violent during the incident. Podemos has denounced the arrest as a "racist raid," with party leaders demanding his immediate release. Mbaye has since been released. Police unions, however, reject the accusations of racism, asserting the police intervention was legitimate and necessary for crime prevention. They also expressed incomprehension at Mbaye's release, given his alleged violent behavior. The incident has sparked debate about police conduct and accusations of racial bias.