At least 128 arrested, more than half minors, during the riots in the center of Barcelona

BarcelonaBarcelona was one of the major European cities that had not yet been affected by the wave of violent protests that have been taking place in Europe for days, especially in France and Italy. Until this Saturday afternoon. About 500 young people, many of them minors, gathered in Plaça de Catalunya, alerted through social media and following the trail of unrest seen in other cities to express their rejection of the system. Without any clear slogan or banners, their attire—practically all in black or dark clothing and with hoods—already very much resembled the protests seen in other cities. And the riots did not take long to arrive.

The Mossos d’Esquadra, who were already prepared, deployed a strong operation with more than 200 officers around the square, and the Guàrdia Urbana cut off access to it. It is, the Mossos point out, an unauthorized gathering because it had not been duly communicated. The final toll of the evening and night of riots in the center of Barcelona ended with more detainees than those announced at midnight. According to the Mossos d'Esquadra, there have been up to 128 people arrested, 56% of whom (72) are minors. Of those arrested, only 2 had a criminal record, and in both cases, it was for public disorder. Also, 68 administrative reports were filed for the seizure of bladed weapons, sprays, balaclavas, pyrotechnics, stones, and other objects, and up to 23 shops have been counted as vandalized or looted. The Mossos also explained that there are 14 injured officers, 4 of them seriously, and that the Firefighters had to provide 33 assists for fires on public roads. In statements to the media at midnight, the Minister of Interior, Núria Parlon, highlighted that the incidents were provoked by "unorganized" groups that were not defending "any right."

The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, was forceful and said that they will pursue the vandals: "This will have consequences, for adults and for minors, for their parents or legal representatives." Collboni expressed his support for the merchants and said that they will go to the end: "We will not allow what has happened in Barcelona to go unpunished, that the city, the shops, and the people walking through the city are vandalized and intimidated for no reason. Forcefulness," he repeated.

The first scuffles and moments of tension arrived around 6:30 p.m. There were the first charges and identifications. The police acted after the youths threw objects at the police cordon line. Some of the activists set fire to trash cans and knocked over parked motorcycles, as reported by the Efe agency. Meanwhile, the Mossos have cordoned off Plaça Catalunya, circling with vans and riot police on foot who are trying to disperse the protesters.

In turn, the youths have started to build a barricade with dumpsters, trash cans, and motorcycles at the intersection of Bergara Street and the square, and have set it on fire. There has also been some damage to urban furniture, and they have smashed the shop windows of some stores. In fact, several establishments have already covered their facades to avoid damage. Some youths have also looted some businesses in the Ronda Universitat area.

For a good part of the day, police officers have closed the entrances and exits of the metro and the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, diverting passengers to other stops.

Social unrest

The protesters are demonstrating due to the social unrest they claim to be suffering and against the system. Like most demonstrations in recent days throughout Europe, the connection is the price of housing, the cost of living, education, and the perception that governments are not responding to daily problems. The Mossos point out that the demonstration is not authorized because it had not been notified in advance.

The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has "roundly" condemned the disturbances. "Violence has no place in Catalonia. Never.", Illa asserted in a message on X, where he also took the opportunity to express his support and gratitude to the Mossos. Government sources have confirmed that Illa is currently in contact with the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the Minister of Interior, Núria Parlon.