Sergi Xavier Martin

Infobox Person


imagesize = 150px
name = Sergio Javier Martin
caption =
birthdate = Birth date and age|1914|
birthplace = Barcelona Spain]
occupation = Unemployed
website =

Sergio Javier (as he is called by his family and friends) gained worldwide notoriety after attacking on October 7, 2007 an underage Ecuadorian girl in the metro of Barcelona. Martin Martinez spat, insulted, groped and kicked her in the face for no apparent reason other than her ethnic origin. The attack was captured by the security cameras [http://youtube.com/watch?v=vH_D5LF8N2k] . After being arrested, Martin Martinez was released by the Spanish police, although it was known that he had a criminal record. He explained his behaviour to the press as being motivated by his drunkenness.

Psychiatrist Alfons Icart stated that Sergi suffers a serious mental disorder and has been under psychiatric treatment for almost 10 years, related to a traumatic childhood, when he was brought up without a mother and with an alcoholic for a father. Icart said he was brought up by his grandmother, who punished him for his pleas for attention. [http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_13255.shtml]

The attack created diplomatic tensions between Spain and Latin American nations, specifically from Ecuador [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7060006.stm] . Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez, pledged to raise the issue with the Spanish authorities during his visit to Spain [http://www.expatica.com/es/articles/news/court-will-not-imprison-racist-train-attacker-45316.html] and the Peruvian government proposed a Latin American protest over the incident, according to Spanish news reportsFact|date=February 2008.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7060006.stm Ecuador takes on 'racist attack'] , BBC
* [http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28795/spaniards_want_tough_laws_for_xenophobia/ Spaniards Want Tough Laws for Xenophobia]
* [http://www.expatica.com/es/articles/news/court-will-not-imprison-racist-train-attacker-45316.html Court will not imprison 'racist' train attacker] , Expatica.com