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Civil unrest and protests in Barcelona

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2026-10-27 01:38 UTC → 2026-10-27 05:01 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Anti-establishment protests in Barcelona escalated into violence and looting, particularly in tourist-heavy shopping districts near Plaza de Catalunya. Masked demonstrators set more than 30 fires and vandalized or looted at least 23 commercial establishments, including the El Corte Inglés department store. Following an unannounced youth protest organized via social media under the slogan ‘Institut Indignats’—inspired by student movements in France—the unrest intensified. The demonstrations involved approximately 500 to 600 participants, many of whom were masked and dressed in black. The chaos caused damage to bicycles, motorcycles, and public transport infrastructure, with the city council estimating damage to urban furniture at 36,000 euros. Catalan police (Mossos d’Esquadra) reported at least 128 arrests, a significant portion of whom are minors; recent figures indicate 72 detainees—approximately 56% of the total—are underaged. The violence resulted in injuries to 14 to 15 police officers, with four in serious condition. In the aftermath, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that the Barcelona City Council will allocate 500,000 euros in aid to support affected merchants, specifically small and medium-sized businesses, to assist with insurance claims and repairs. The unrest has triggered intense political debate. While Spanish President Pedro Sánchez condemned the events as vandalism instigated via social media, government officials have suggested links to far-right influence and social media algorithms. Conversely, opposition parties, including the PP and Vox, have attributed the violence to far-left groups. Authorities continue to pursue legal action against those responsible for damages to public spaces. Investigators from Investigations by the Mossos d'Esquadra and the National Police are ~~now~~ currently tracing digital footprints on TikTok, WhatsApp, and Telegram. ~~The unrest was organized under~~ Authorities are specifically examining anonymous TikTok profiles using the hashtag ~~‘Blocus’, a term inspired by French student protests. Digital evidence suggests that anonymous accounts used QR codes~~ ‘Blocus’ to ~~direct participants~~ coordinate unrest, with reports suggesting up to ~~private messaging groups where specific instructions for looting and meeting points~~ 70 accounts were ~~shared.~~ involved in disseminating calls across multiple Spanish cities. Furthermore, the National Police and the National Intelligence Center are investigating potential foreign interference and attempts at external destabilization to determine if the coordination was driven by international actors.

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