Businesses demand stronger police response
The Associació Passeig de Gràcia (APG) has issued a statement expressing deep concern over serious disturbances in central Barcelona on Thursday 12th November 2026, which resulted in damage and theft at six commercial establishments on the avenue. Additional acts of vandalism, including graffiti, affected numerous other businesses. The association attributed the violence to organised radical groups and called on the Government of the Generalitat to urgently revise police protocols to allow the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police force) to respond with greater force and effectiveness, while maintaining proportionality and operating within the law. According to the APG, the issue lies less in the number of officers deployed and more in the need to reassess operational protocols and material resources available to police during high-intensity incidents.
Legal support for affected businesses
Lluís Sans, president of the Associació Passeig de Gràcia, stated: "We cannot accept that perfectly organized radical groups are capable of overwhelming a police operation of this magnitude and causing damage in the heart of Barcelona. The Mossos d'Esquadra must have the necessary protocols and material means to act effectively and protect the safety of people and establishments. It is the responsibility of the administrations to guarantee this." The association will offer legal support to affected businesses through a recently launched legal assistance service, developed in collaboration with the Gremi d’Hotels de Barcelona and the law firm Molins Defensa Penal. This initiative, active since 1st September 2026 and initially running for six months, provides specialised criminal legal advice and representation for businesses, employees, and customers affected by criminal acts as part of a pilot project. The APG will also consider joining criminal proceedings to demand accountability and claim compensation for damages, which are expected to be substantial but have not yet been fully assessed.
Concerns over police constraints and future threats
The association highlighted the use of Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnic devices by the violent groups, whose presence among peaceful demonstrators complicated police intervention and endangered public safety. It called for a thorough review of high-intensity disturbance protocols and police equipment. The APG noted that Catalonia's public climate has become particularly restrictive toward police actions, limiting the Mossos' operational tools compared to other Spanish and European forces, despite the region hosting significant anti-system radical activity. The group also warned of potential increases in violent mobilisations should a new government take power in Spain, particularly one opposed by certain radical left-wing factions.
Sources: La Vanguardia, ZonaIT.
