'Spain's Charlie Kirk' sparks violent protest at university where he was due to speak, with rioters setting cars on fire

Violent protests have erupted at a Spanish university against a far-right figure dubbed 'Spain's Charlie Kirk' who was invited as a guest speaker. Cars were set alight, and 19 people were arrested after thousands of students took to the streets on Monday to protest Vito Quiles speaking at the University of Deusto in Bilbao. Mr Quiles, 26, was forced to cancel the event, while the university closed down its facilities.The far-right activist has been likened to the late Charlie Kirk - who was assassinated while on stage at Utah Valley University last year - for his heated debates with left-wing students at universities. What started as a peaceful protest descended into chaos when around 300 rioters set fire to civilian cars and raided local shops. Youths dressed in black with covered faces set fire to a police motorcycle and several cars, destroyed bins, and looted shops, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported. Cops arrested 19 people, including minors, Basque Minister of Security Bingen Zupiria said, three of whom were under investigation. Mr Quiles claimed the protests were related to Eta, a now-defunct Basque terrorist group. Violent protests have erupted at a Spanish university against far-right figure Vito Quiles dubbed 'Spain's Charlie Kirk' Vito Quiles pictures at a political rally in Pamplona on October 15 Members of the Basque police blocke the access to the University of Deusto to prevent potential disturbances that might arise from a visit by Spanish right-wing activist Vito Quiles on October 26, 2026 in Bilbao'Today it has become clear who the real ultras are, and the majority of Spaniards have seen it,' he added on social media.'They are not students; they are terrorists. Either you're with my act, with freedom, or you're with Eta. There's no more to it.'In another post, he said: 'We've managed to drag a bunch of lazy bums out of bed who haven't set foot outside on a Monday at this hour in ages.'What happened today in Bilbao is an unprecedented success. Now off for a little beer, you filthy lot.'Mr Quiles, from Alicante, has built an online following by posting confrontational vox pops and protesting against socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in nationalist marches. He worked as a press officer for alt-Right politician Alvise Perez and his Se Acabo la Fiesta party and was a correspondent for broadcaster EDA TV at the Congress of Deputies.However, his press accreditation was permanently revoked by the Spanish Congress of Deputies last month over repeated violations of parliamentary rules and ethics codes. But like Kirk, he has built his career online, with more than 2.7million followers across X, Instagram and TikTok. He often posts videos against migration, woke culture, and the Left. Quiles has been compared to the late Charlie Kirk (pictured at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025)Last year, he launched a tour of Spanish universities without official approval. 'After the murder of Charlie Kirk… it makes more sense than ever to champion freedom where it is most threatened,' he said at the time. His 'España combativa' university speaking tour has faced administrative bans and opposition from students across the country. The violent protests on Monday came after clashes erupted in France over the weekend over school funding and soaring living costs. What began as peaceful marches on Saturday, a week after widespread looting and rioting, turned violent after masked protesters hurled objects and fireworks at police, who retaliated with tear gas and water cannons. Street fires burned in the cities of Marseille and Lyon. Police used tear gas in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg and Bordeaux and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown, and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said.