Mossos Seek School Help in Blocus Inquiry
The Mossos d'Esquadra have sent an email to around a dozen schools and institutes in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district, requesting assistance in identifying minors who took part in the riots instigated by the Blocus movement on Saturday 24th October 2026. The email, revealed by La Directa and confirmed by El Món, asks school administrations to share any relevant information, including student identities, images, videos, or names, if they come into possession of it. This move has sparked strong criticism from teaching unions, with USTEC, the majority education union, stating that "educational centres are not extensions of police operations." The union has formally requested explanations from the Department of Education and called for safeguards to protect children's rights, data privacy, and legal security for staff.
Unions Denounce 'Police Logic' in Schools
USTEC has expressed concern that the communication between schools and the Mossos was informal and warns against turning school management and teaching staff into investigation tools. The union described the email exchange as part of a broader trend of introducing "police logic and control" into educational environments, referencing past controversies such as pilot plans for plainclothes officers in faculty meetings and police infiltration of school assemblies during strike periods. The Confederació de Greuges i Treballadors (CGT) has also condemned the action in the strongest terms, calling the email exchange a "barbarity" and affirming that educators are not secret informants. In a social media statement, CGT said: "We educators are not secret informants for the police; students must be able to find a safe space at school. We should never go to school in fear."
Educational centres are not extensions of police operations.
Police Say Schools Initiated Contact
Police sources have disputed the narrative that the Mossos acted proactively, stating instead that school administrations contacted them first, seeking guidance on how to respond to the unrest. The Association of School Leaders (AXIA) confirmed the existence of the emails in the Ciutat Vella district but noted there is no widespread concern among school leaders across Barcelona about the events of 24th October. Despite this, AXIA has consistently opposed any form of police intervention within schools, echoing broader staff resistance that has already curbed some government initiatives. Meanwhile, the investigation into Blocus continues: on Monday 2nd November, the Generalitat confirmed the arrest of two teenage girls, aged 14 and 17, from the Maresme and Bages regions, who are suspected of administering WhatsApp channels used to coordinate the riots and looting in Barcelona. The probe remains open, with further actions not ruled out.
Sources: El Món, Govern de Catalunya.
