Arrest made following public alert
On Thursday afternoon, 1 October 2026, the Guàrdia Urbana arrested a man for carrying a knife while under the influence of an intoxicating substance on Avinguda Diagonal, near Carrer de Balmes. The incident occurred at around 17:45 in a busy commercial and office district, shortly after workers finished their shifts. Witnesses reported seeing the individual openly displaying the weapon as he walked through the area, prompting multiple calls to emergency services. Based on citizen descriptions, officers from the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi Territorial Unit quickly located and detained the suspect.
The individual did not threaten pedestrians, according to Barcelona City Council sources.
He is being held on suspicion of illegal weapons possession, a criminal offence under Spanish law. Authorities have not released his age, nationality or prior record. The man has been transferred to a local police station pending judicial appearance before the on-duty magistrate.
No injuries reported
The knife’s specific characteristics and whether the man intended to harm anyone remain unclear. Police believe his actions were driven by drug use, though toxicology results are pending. This incident follows a pattern of recent blade-related events in central Barcelona. On 28 September 2026, a 23-year-old man from Eastern Europe was seriously injured after being stabbed at Hotel Casa Fuster in the Gràcia district. According to the latest official data from the Barcelona City Council, crimes against people rose by 11.1% in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching 13,813 cases. Crimes involving public order and health, including drug-related incidents, also increased by 5.9% over the same period.
Primary sources: Barcelona City Council. Reported by beteve.cat, elcaso.elnacional.cat, ACN, betevé.
