Spain police deploy security in Barcelona and Madrid following unrest

Spanish authorities have increased security presence in Barcelona and Madrid following a series of violent disturbances and looting incidents. In Barcelona, the Mossos d'Esquadra and Guàrdia Urbana deployed a significant police presence around Plaça Espanya and the Sants district on Monday. This preventative measure was taken after social media calls for unauthorized gatherings, attributed to the group Blocus, were detected. Local merchants in areas like Creu Coberta reported taking precautions, such as lowering shutters and covering storefronts, to protect against potential vandalism.

In Madrid, police successfully intercepted a planned gathering at Puerta del Sol intended to target large retailers. National Police identified and processed approximately 200 individuals, many of whom were minors, following intelligence gathered from Telegram and WhatsApp groups. While the immediate threat in Madrid was neutralized, members of the Blocus movement have issued messages on social media claiming they will return to organize further actions.

Investigations into the previous Saturday's riots in Barcelona, which resulted in 130 arrests, suggest the violence was driven by groups of youths seeking to engage in looting rather than specific political agendas. Authorities have ruled out foreign interference, focusing instead on decentralized social media calls for chaos.