Three people detained after violent clashes at Fossar de les Moreres have been released with charges. The incident involved left-wing independence activists and Aliança Catalana. Thirteen police officers sustained minor injuries.
Three people arrested during the clashes at Fossar de les Moreres in Barcelona have been released with charges, following a decision by the city’s duty judge. The arrests came after a confrontation between left-wing independence supporters and members of Aliança Catalana, which led to police intervention and left several officers with minor injuries.
The incident took place in the Born district, a site with strong ties to Catalan history. Groups linked to the CUP organized a protest against Aliança Catalana’s presence at Fossar de les Moreres, a location known for commemorating the 1714 siege of Barcelona. Tensions rose when demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon set up by the Mossos d'Esquadra. Officers from the BRIMO riot unit intervened to keep the two groups apart. According to Spanish media outlets including Betevé and La Vanguardia, police established the perimeter because of two simultaneous gatherings: one by Aliança Catalana and another by anti-fascist and left-wing independence groups such as Arran.
Estimates of the crowd size varied widely, with around 500 Aliança Catalana supporters and between 1,500 and 2,500 counter-protesters reported by different sources.
The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Catalunya reports that the three detainees are now under investigation for public disorder, assaulting authority, and causing minor injuries. The judge’s decision to release them follows the prosecutor’s recommendation, but all three remain under judicial review. Reports from ARA and VilaWeb note that, beyond the three detained, up to seven others are also under investigation for their roles in the unrest, with accusations including attacking police and causing injuries.
Thirteen BRIMO officers were reported to have minor injuries during the operation. Some sources, such as Betevé and VilaWeb, put the number at 14. The police response began when a group outside the protected area tried to push through the security line, which escalated the situation. The deployment was large and planned in advance, with dozens of police vans blocking access to Fossar de les Moreres, according to Crónica Global.
Fossar de les Moreres is often a site for political demonstrations and remembrance, and confrontations have occurred there in previous years. This time, the anti-fascist response was organized by networks linked to the left-wing independence movement, and police used the BRIMO riot unit to keep the groups apart.
As the three released individuals await further legal proceedings, the events at Fossar de les Moreres highlight ongoing tensions in Catalonia’s political scene. The number of police injuries compared to civilian detentions shows the intensity of the confrontation and the risks for officers on duty. Judicial authorities have chosen a cautious approach, releasing the detainees with charges while the investigation continues.
