The investigation into Carles Vilajosana’s death in Manresa has widened after Catalan police arrested two more 16-year-olds suspected of involvement in the fatal stabbing. The arrests bring the total number of minors detained in the case to four. The incident took place in the early morning after the city’s basic festival, and investigators are examining whether a larger group was involved.
Police say the two newly detained teenagers were among those who confronted Vilajosana on September 1. The altercation escalated, and investigators say Otman A. allegedly stabbed Vilajosana in the chest. The attack took place around 5:10 a.m., as Vilajosana was returning home after the Correfoc event that closed Manresa’s annual festivities.
On September 8, 2026, Mossos d'Esquadra detained two additional 16-year-olds, bringing the total number of minors arrested in the case to four.
Within hours of the crime, Mossos d’Esquadra officers had arrested two minors: Pere O., 15, and Otman A., 16. Both had previous records for violent offenses, including incidents involving knives. One had recently completed a period of supervised release, while the other was still under such an order at the time of the killing. Reports from El País and police statements confirm that both were under judicial supervision when the incident occurred.
The Division of Criminal Investigation (DIC) is examining whether more people were involved, as the confrontation reportedly included two groups of four or five. A juvenile court ordered the first two suspects held in closed detention, with one also assigned to therapeutic treatment. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are possible as they work to piece together what happened. The Catalan Ministry of the Interior says the case remains open and more suspects may be identified.
The suspects’ history of repeat offenses has drawn attention to the challenges facing juvenile justice in Catalonia. Officials described the behavior of the first two minors detained as “reprehensible” and “inappropriate.” One had left a detention center just over a month before the fatal incident. The case has revived concerns about youth violence and repeat offending, similar to issues raised in a recent case in Balaguer.
Catalonia's Minister of the Interior, Nuria Parlon, publicly refuted claims that the detained minors were foreign unaccompanied youths, clarifying that both were born in Catalonia and have family ties in the region. The Manresa city council and local authorities held a minute of silence in memory of the victim, reflecting the case’s impressive public resonance.
The investigation also highlights the difficulties of preventing youth violence and addressing repeat offending under the current legal system. All four suspects are under 18 but already have extensive criminal records, pointing to a gap between intervention and effective rehabilitation. The case has raised questions about whether existing policies can prevent similar incidents and maintain public trust in policing and juvenile justice.
