Three individuals arrested in Barcelona and one in Castelló de la Plana are being held in pre-trial detention without bail following disturbances linked to the general strike on Wednesday 11th November 2026. The decision, confirmed by the Catalan High Court (TSJC), marks a significant judicial step in the aftermath of clashes that broke out in central Barcelona after the main demonstration ended.
Barcelona’s on-duty courts processed 26 of the 52 people arrested by the Mossos d'Esquadra regional police during the unrest. Of these, three were remanded in custody without bail, while 23 were released pending further appearances before judicial authorities. The charges under investigation include property damage, assault on officers, public disorder, and resistance to authority, according to the TSJC.
The Mossos reported 36 officers injured and confirmed that 52 people were detained, including six minors. Most of those arrested were aged around 24, with 32 men and 14 women among the adult detainees. Two had prior involvement in unrest linked to the Blocus movement on 24th October, including a minor under a court-ordered prohibition from attending demonstrations.
In Castelló, a fourth individual was also placed in pre-trial detention, accused of assaulting an authority figure. Alerta Solidària, a legal support group, condemned the detentions as an "abuse and a serious error", blaming the decisions on a climate of repression intensified in recent weeks. The organisation announced it will appeal the Barcelona rulings at the High Court and is providing support to families of those detained.
These measures are not convictions, but precautionary steps. Each case must be assessed individually based on evidence and conduct.
Violence erupted around 7pm on 11th November in key locations including Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Universitat, Plaça d'Urquinaona and Passeig de Gràcia, after the officially organised protest concluded. While organisers estimated 400,000 attendees citywide, police placed the number at around 57,000 in Barcelona. Catalan president Salvador Illa attributed the violence to anarchist and radical anti-establishment groups infiltrating peaceful protests, vowing that all responsible would be identified and prosecuted.
The Barcelona city council has estimated €150,000 in damages from the burning of 110 waste containers and vandalism to commercial properties. Judicial proceedings remain open across instruction courts 25, 26 and 27 at Barcelona’s Tribunal de Instancia, with no trial dates yet set.
Sources: Nació Digital, WUA Radar, Catalan News, Metrópoli, VilaWeb.
