Police break up train graffiti network
The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested nine individuals aged between 20 and 36 for allegedly carrying out 53 acts of vandalism on railway infrastructure across Barcelona and its metropolitan area. The arrests, made on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, mark a major breakthrough in Operation MURAL, an investigation launched in March 2024 to tackle repeated graffiti attacks on trains operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), Rodalies de Catalunya and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). According to the Generalitat, the suspects accessed rail facilities illegally and sprayed large-scale graffiti on stationary train carriages. Locations affected include Sant Vicenç de Calders, Martorell, Sitges, Montcada i Reixac, Cornellà, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Ripoll, Garraf, Granollers, Sant Vicenç de Castellet and Badalona, illustrating the wide geographical reach of the operation.
Costs exceed €229,000
The total cost of the damage caused by the group exceeds €229,000, with repairs required across multiple operators. The figure reflects expert valuations of property damage conducted under the investigation, as confirmed by the Mossos d'Esquadra. Four of those detained had no prior criminal record; the others had previous involvement in similar offences or other property crimes. All were released after appearing before the duty judge pending further judicial proceedings.
These acts do not just damage infrastructure, they disrupt daily commutes, delay services and divert public funds from improvements to repair,” said a spokesperson for the Central Airport and Public Transport Area (ACAT) unit.
Passengers across Catalonia have long faced unreliable service, particularly on Rodalies lines, and incidents like these worsen delays when trains must be taken out of service for cleaning and restoration.
Graffiti cleanup partnerships continue
Despite enforcement efforts, graffiti remains a persistent challenge. In response, Renfe has partnered with a local graffiti collective to help clean train exteriors under a voluntary initiative detailed on its official website. The collaboration aims to reduce environmental impact and speed up the return of trains to service.
Primary sources: eb.gencat.cat, renfe.com. Reported by elcaso.elnacional.cat, elconfidencialdigital.com, transparencia.fgc.cat, El Caso (El Nacional).
