Police in Elche, Spain, are investigating an incident in which two warehouses and a truck were set alight during protests last Thursday. Hundreds of demonstrators took part in a violent protest against cheap imports of shoes from the Far East.

During the protest, demonstrators attacked a truck and buildings which contained imported goods and set fire to boxes of shoes, venting their anger against imports which they say are destroying the shoe industry in Elche, one of the most important shoe-making centres in Spain.

Businesses in the area claim they are suffering competition from cut-price products made in factories in China.

Although the organisation SOS Racism claims that the incident was a racist attack carried out by a few radicals, union boss Juan Carlos Soler denied there was any racial motive behind the attacks. “We have spent months now asking the authorities to put an end to the unfair competition from Asian products,” he said.

Police are maintaining a strong presence in the area to prevent any further outbreaks of violence.

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