Mass brawl in Mallorca: school trip ends in chaos!

Mass brawl in Mallorca: school trip ends in chaos!

On April 16, 2025, a massive brawl occurred at the Bellevue hotel complex in Alcúdia, Mallorca, affecting more than 200 students. The students were on a school trip that accommodated a total of over 2,700 students. The clashes took place both in the hotel and on the street in front of it, with several young people being seriously injured. A 24-year-old man suffered stab wounds that are not life-threatening.

Local police struggled to separate the combatants, even after assistance was requested from the Civil Guard. In addition to the stab wounds, other teenagers also had to be taken to hospital after they were injured during the fight in which objects were used as weapons. The perpetrator, an 18-year-old Portuguese, was arrested that evening on board a ferry to Valencia. Witnesses reported aggressive behavior on the part of the young people, who were repeatedly involved in conflicts, especially during school trips.

Background and causes

The exact reasons for the fight are currently unknown. However, in the days before this incident there were several complaints that called the police to the scene. Residents report recurring night-time riots during school trips, leading to an increasingly tense atmosphere in the region. Students from various institutions on the Spanish mainland and from Portugal were involved, making the riots a geographically and culturally diverse but also problematic event.

Tourism and its effects

The event must also be seen in the context of the ongoing overtourism in Mallorca. In the first seven months of 2024, international tourists spent over 71 billion euros, an increase of 18.6% compared to the previous year. Mallorca, with a population of under a million, receives more than ten times that number of tourists in the summer months. These massive increases in visitor numbers have placed significant strain on the island's resources and infrastructure, including housing and environmental sustainability.

The growth of the tourism sector, which represented around 45% of Mallorcan GDP in 2021 and supports 35% of jobs, brings many economic benefits. But at the same time, those responsible are now faced with the challenge of protecting the local population and the environment. Efforts to promote sustainable practices in tourism are required, not least due to recent incidents that clearly demonstrate the problems of massive tourism.

This brawl raises questions not only about the safety of the youth, but also about the structural challenges associated with the island's tourism system. It remains to be seen what measures authorities will take to manage both the safety of students on school trips and the impact of tourism on the local population.

Reporting on the incidents and the challenges facing Mallorca remains an important issue for residents and tourists alike. The balance between tourist attraction and the needs of the local population will be crucial for the future of the island.

For more information about the incidents and their context, read the articles at vol.at, rtl.de and klebergroup.com.