Fourth arrest for Blocus in Catalonia: they arrest a young man who incited the looting in Barcelona

BarcelonaThe Mossos d'Esquadra have confirmed this Saturday a fourth arrest related to the Blocus movement in Catalonia. The police arrested a 21-year-old man in Cabrera d'Anoia as the alleged "instigator and facilitator" of the group that carried out the looting in the center of Barcelona last weekend. The Mossos point out that the detainee was an administrator of one of the groups created to facilitate the coordination of participants, which was promoted through the distribution of a poster on the social network TikTok that included a QR code with direct access to a WhatsApp channel. In addition, he actively participated in inciting disturbances, but especially the looting. In fact, he was in Barcelona at the time of the events.

The investigation remains open and the Mossos d'Esquadra do not rule out more arrests. So far, the Catalan police had arrested three people: a 17-year-old youth in Bellmunt (Lleida) who allegedly instigated a Blocus call at the Paeria de Lleida for this Saturday; another minor from Sant Sadurní d'Anoia who was the administrator of a channel that incited violence in relation to last week's mobilization, and an 18-year-old boy whom the Mossos link to last Saturday's events and to the organization of one of the Blocus groups in Barcelona.

On the other hand, the magistrate of the Torrent court has decreed provisional prison without bail for the young man arrested in Picanya (Valencia) for being the alleged founder and promoter of the Blocus movement in Spain. The judge also prohibits him from accessing computers and any type of device with a connection to social networks. This same Saturday, the young man entered a penitentiary center, as reported in a statement by the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community.

The detainee called himself Fuck A.E.A.T (in reference to the Tax Agency) on social networks and tried to recruit youth to go to protests. On Friday, Civil Guard agents arrested him for preparing new riots and for being related to those of last Saturday in Barcelona. In fact, he is being investigated for crimes of criminal organization intended to incite public disorder, robbery with force in businesses, and damages. As the case against him progresses, more illicit acts may be attributed to him.

Behind Fuck A.E.A.T is a 20-year-old youth who, according to police sources, has no relevant criminal record and is of Spanish nationality. In some publications, he defended a "radical" movement and criticized social problems regarding housing or access to the public health system and, in a video where he appeared with his face hidden and voice distorted, he proclaimed himself leader of Blocus. According to the Civil Guard, he presented himself on Telegram as the person responsible for the movement in Spain.

Apart from the self-proclaimed leader, in the province of Valencia the National Police has arrested two more youths for being related to groups that incited riots in the Valencian capital. There have also been two arrests in Tenerife, another in Bilbao, and a last one in Malaga.