Masked groups set fire to at least 12 parked vehicles and rubbish containers near the University of Deusto. The Ertzaintza arrested 16 people after officers were targeted with stones and pyrotechnics.
When marches in Deusto ended on 26 October 2026, masked groups began setting parked vehicles alight and confronted officers with pyrotechnics and stones. The disturbances followed a protest against a planned appearance by political activist Vito Quiles near the University of Deusto; the scheduled event did not take place. The Basque Government’s Department of Security reported 16 arrests by the Ertzaintza.
At least 12 cars parked on a street beside the University of Deusto were set alight. Containers also burned on Avenida Lehendakari Aguirre and Francesc Maciá, including one from a construction site. Cadena SER reported that a municipal police motorcycle was also burned and that the Deusto Ertzaintza station was pelted with stones.
The unrest unfolded around the university campus. Cadena SER reported that police faced stones as the Ertzaintza intervened to disperse participants; petards and flares were also reported. Telecinco reported that the University of Deusto closed its facilities preventively ahead of the anticipated disorder. The account describes several nearby streets as affected, but gives no details of road closures or injuries.
The report compares the Bilbao incidents with unrest in Pamplona on 15 October. There, masked groups threw stones and bottles near Yamaguchi Park, while containers were overturned and police carried out charges. The National Police and Policía Foral had deployed a security operation in the area, including Ermitagaña and San Juan.
RUSSPAIN has covered a separate traffic issue in Pogačar's Monaco training ride; that report concerned cycling in traffic, rather than the violence in Deusto.
The Department of Security's reported total remains 16 arrests.
