One Lawyer for Over Thirty Minors

Anahí Zárate, a Barcelona-based lawyer with 26 years of experience, has taken on legal representation for 32 of the 85 minors arrested following riots in central Barcelona on Saturday 24th October 2026. Despite not being officially assigned to the duty roster, Zárate responded to an urgent alert in the early hours of Sunday 25th October and immediately went to the Ciutat de la Justícia to assist the detained adolescents.

"Out of morality, I accepted the cases,"

Zárate told Crónica Global in a telephone interview. She described the situation as extraordinary and entirely unusual, with only three duty lawyers initially available to represent all 85 minors.

The minors are being processed under Spain’s Minor’s Law, which requires police to report arrests to the Public Prosecutor’s Office within 24 hours. The prosecutor then has up to 48 hours to bring the minor before a judge, during which time a technical team of psychologists and social workers prepares a mandatory psychosocial report. This report assesses the minor’s family structure, school attendance, emotional relationships, and extracurricular activities. Based on this, a hearing is held where the Public Prosecutor’s Office requests precautionary measures such as supervised release, detention, or restraining orders. The judge makes the final decision. To date, judges in the juvenile section have issued three closed detention orders, according to sources from the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC). Not all 85 minors have yet appeared before a judge, and judicial proceedings remain ongoing.

Unprecedented Youth Disturbances

Commissioner Sílvia Catà of the Mossos d'Esquadra described the events as a "new phenomenon of youth violence" during a parliamentary briefing. She noted that the last comparable incident was the February 2021 protests linked to rapper Pablo Hasél, which involved 17 minors, far fewer than the 85 detained last weekend. The Mossos identified 300 individuals before the riots and seized pyrotechnic materials, aerosols, stones, and bladed weapons. However, Director General of Police Ferran López admitted that the force did not accurately gauge the level of violence they would face.

"The police presence was not effective at that moment in making them go home,"

Catà stated, expressing concern over a perceived loss of respect for police authority.

The Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB) remained in constant contact with duty lawyers and offered them the option to decline cases due to the overwhelming volume. Zárate chose to continue representing her clients, acknowledging the strain on the legal aid system but praising the collective effort of police, prosecutors, judges, and civil servants who worked well beyond standard hours. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested closed detention for six minors and probation with demonstration bans for 29 others. As of Monday 26th October, the total number of arrests rose to 133, with 85 minors among them. The Mossos are investigating social media accounts on TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram believed to have coordinated the gathering. Minister of the Interior Núria Parlon confirmed that urgent judicial authorisation will be sought to identify and shut down online groups inciting further violence. A new demonstration call for Saturday 31st October in Plaça Espanya is being monitored, and the Mossos are deploying resources to the Sants-Montjuïc district.

What Happens Next

The judiciary continues to process detained minors progressively to comply with procedural guarantees. Lawyers like Zárate stress the importance of timely legal support, as no minor can remain without a judicial measure for more than 48 hours after arrest. Families are urged to remain vigilant about online content their children access, and authorities warn that they will continue to pursue legal action against digital organisers of unrest.

Sources: Crónica Global, Ara, todoalicante.es (EFE), barcelonapress.com.