Catalan police have arrested two additional 16-year-olds in connection with the fatal stabbing of Carles Vilajosana in Manresa. The suspects join two others already in custody. The investigation remains active as authorities seek to clarify the full sequence of events.
The investigation into the death of Carles Vilajosana in Manresa has widened, with Catalan police arresting two more 16-year-olds suspected of involvement in the fatal stabbing. These latest arrests bring the total number of minors detained in the case to four, suggesting a larger group was present during the incident, which happened in the early morning after the city’s main festival.
Police say the two newly detained teenagers were among those who confronted Vilajosana on September 1. The altercation escalated, and, according to investigators, 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, officers from the Mossos d’Esquadra had already arrested two minors: Pere O., 15, and Otman A., 16. Both had previous records for violent offenses, including incidents involving knives. One had recently finished 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 looking into whether more people were involved, since the confrontation reportedly included two groups of four or five. The first two suspects remain in closed detention by order of a juvenile court, 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 has stated that 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 significant public resonance of the case.
The ongoing investigation highlights the difficulties in preventing youth violence and dealing with repeat offenders 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 the ability of existing policies to prevent similar incidents and maintain public trust in policing and juvenile justice.
