False Accusations Spread Online
Ahmed, a student of Social Integration in Barcelona, and Youssef, a taxi driver from Manresa, were thrust into a national scandal after their photos were circulated on social media falsely identifying them as suspects in the murder of an 83-year-old woman in Burgos. The crime was real, but neither man had any connection to it. The images were amplified by accounts linked to the far-right group National Nucleus and the youth association Revuelta. The disinformation campaign triggered a wave of threats and abuse directed at both men. The Mossos d'Esquadra opened an investigation following the first formal complaint, and the anti-racism organisation Acción Contra el Odio announced it would pursue a popular prosecution.
Group's Activities in Catalonia
National Nucleus had already established a visible presence in Catalonia prior to the hoax. On 10th January 2026, the group launched its Catalan delegation at an industrial estate in Sentmenat, Vallès Occidental, after announcing its arrival in a video filmed in Barcelona. The event drew hundreds of anti-fascist protesters, and the Mossos intervened as some demonstrators attempted to breach the venue. On 13th June, around 100 supporters of the group gathered in front of the Government Delegation in Barcelona, according to the Guàrdia Urbana (Municipal Police), while an anti-fascist counter-demonstration drew approximately 800 people. On 31st July, the group convened again in Barcelona, this time outside the Moroccan consulate, referencing the Ceuta migrant crisis. On 12th October, members of National Nucleus joined the rear of a march on Passeig de Gràcia organised by Units per Ceuta and supported by the PP and Vox. The total turnout for the demonstration was 1,700 people.
Ties to Vox and Revuelta
Manel Rojo Gallardo, who publicly announced the group's Catalan delegation, has documented ties to Vox. Journalistic investigations by Newtral and El Món place him in Vox's ranks and confirm his presence at the party's 2024 Catalan election closing rally in Plaça Artós, where national leaders Santiago Abascal and Ignacio Garriga spoke. He previously ran on a Ciudadanos municipal list in Sant Andreu de la Barca. While sources confirm Rojo's trajectory and the overlap at the 12th October march, they do not establish an organisational link between Vox and National Nucleus, though they point to a close ideological alignment. The connection with Revuelta, a youth group that emerged from the Vox milieu, is clearer in this case: both Revuelta and National Nucleus shared the same false images, contributing to the disinformation.
Police Operation and Ongoing Investigations
The National Police launched an operation on 6th November 2026, arresting at least 12 individuals linked to National Nucleus and conducting searches across seven provinces: Madrid, Asturias, Guadalajara, Pontevedra, Burgos, Alicante, and Valladolid, where the group is headquartered. The operation, coordinated by a court in Gijón, investigates alleged hate crimes and illicit association, stemming from disturbances in Gijón in February 2026. Catalonia was not among the territories involved in the operation. However, the Mossos' separate investigation into the Burgos hoax remains open, focusing on who initially circulated the photos and the legal responsibility of those who amplified them. The case highlights how a crime committed outside Catalonia led to targeted harassment of two young men within the region.
The fact that Revuelta and National Nucleus disseminated the same images proves both contributed to spreading the falsehood.
A separate Mossos investigation, also announced on 6th November, led to the arrest of a minor from Vallès Occidental over alleged involvement in coordinating and promoting the 'BLOCUS' gatherings via TikTok and messaging apps on 24th and 31st October in Barcelona. The minor is under investigation for public disorder and membership of a criminal group. Proceedings have been referred to the Barcelona Juvenile Prosecution Office.
Sources: CatalunyaPress, Mossos d'Esquadra, Ara.
