Spain’s Civil Guard said around 500 people were involved in the disturbances in central Barcelona on 24 October, which left around 30 shops looted, the article reported. Catalan police reported 133 arrests, including 89 minors. Reuters separately cited a police tally of 132 arrests, comprising 83 minors and 49 adults. EFE-based reporting put the number at 128, including 72 minors, and recorded 23 shops as looted or vandalised. On Saturday 31 October, a large police deployment prevented a repeat of the protests and looting; the day passed without reported incidents. Officers identified more than 2,000 people in ten cities, including 1,440 in Barcelona. Ara reported 2,264 identifications during the operation and said 127 objects considered potentially usable in the protest were confiscated.
A judge has ordered an 18-year-old held in prison over the 24 October unrest. The young man was arrested in Barcelona on Friday, 30 October. Reuters described him as the suspected founder and principal promoter of the local Blocus chapter. The judge cited indications of conspiracy to commit public disorder and membership of a criminal group. The accusations have not resulted in a conviction. Reuters reported that the Interior Ministry said six other people connected to Blocus had also been arrested in Spain.
The Mossos d’Esquadra allege that he instigated and mobilised one of the Telegram groups used to encourage looting. Reuters reported that police accused Blocus of using social media and online channels to exploit student demonstrations as cover for looting and violence. The 18-year-old was the third of four people arrested by the force in Catalonia in connection with the disturbances.
On Saturday, a juvenile court ordered closed-regime detention for a 17-year-old arrested in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. The Mossos link him to the same Telegram group and suspect him of handling its organisation and coordination. Police allege that he circulated an invitation link and advised members on equipment and how to avoid detection. They also say he suggested possible looting targets. A 21-year-old arrested in Cabrera d’Anoia is accused of coordinating vandalism in Barcelona. Police say he administered a communications group created to coordinate participants and was in the city during the unrest. Members accessed it through a QR code printed on posters circulated on TikTok. The Mossos described him as an alleged instigator and organiser of a Blocus-related group. The investigation remained open, and police said further arrests could not be ruled out.
The fourth arrest was made on Thursday in Bellmunt d’Urgell. The 16-year-old was accused of creating a Blocus Telegram group in Lleida. The court ordered supervised release with therapeutic instruction and barred him from entering Lleida on 31 October and 1 November. Before the 31 October call, a Telegram group associated with the gathering reportedly exceeded 2,500 members before it was shut down. Telegram blocked channels described as inciting violence and property damage after Catalan authorities sought action through CITCO, Spain’s Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime. Related coverage has also examined other Blocus arrests.
