Deusto University halts Bilbao campus activities amid fears of clashes at Vito Quiles event

University of Deusto issued a statement Monday morning announcing the suspension of all activities on its Bilbao campus this afternoon, citing the risk of “incidents” tied to a gathering organized by ultranationalist speaker Vito Quiles. The decision follows guidance from the Ertzaintza, with the campus slated to close at 15:00 after halting operations at 14:00. Quiles, who is conducting a “Tour Combativos II” across Spanish cities, denounced the closure as “gravísimo” on X and indicated he may move the event to another location in Bilbao or cancel it for attendees’ safety.

Antifascist collectives have mobilized protests, urging a response to what they describe as hateful rhetoric, and several dozen demonstrators have assembled in central Bilbao. Earlier attempts by Quiles to hold similar events in Barcelona and Zaragoza encountered police intervention and venue changes. The university emphasized that it does not organize or endorse the gathering and reiterated its commitment to a plural, dialogue-based environment.