Preventative operation at Plaça Espanya
On Monday 26th October 2026, the Mossos d'Esquadra identified several young people in Plaça Espanya, Barcelona, following a new call for assembly circulated on social media. The alert came after authorities detected a poster using the same visual style as the one linked to Saturday’s disturbances, which resulted in looting, vandalism and 130 arrests, 78 of them minors. A joint police operation began around 5 PM, with officers from both the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Guàrdia Urbana deploying across the Sants-Montjuïc district. Units monitored metro entrances and public spaces, conducting identifications in the area. No protest materialised, and the afternoon passed without incident.
Businesses warned and protected
Earlier in the day, both police forces contacted local business associations to alert them to the potential threat. Shop owners, particularly along Carrer de Sants and Creu Coberta, were advised to take precautions and report any suspicious activity to emergency services. Some chose to board up their windows with cardboard as a preventive measure. A spokesperson for the Mossos confirmed they had coordinated with commercial representatives in Sants and Plaça Espanya, areas identified as potential flashpoints following the previous weekend’s events.
Judicial response to Saturday’s unrest
The Juvenile Prosecutor's Office has requested the internment of six minors arrested during Saturday’s riots, while also seeking a ban on 20 others attending demonstrations. According to the Mossos’ latest figures, 130 people have been detained in total, 123 men and 7 women, with 78 under the age of 18. The disturbances, which began near Plaça Catalunya, involved around 500 young people and lasted until midnight. They included clashes with police, arson of street furniture, and damage to approximately 30 businesses. Fourteen Mossos officers and one Guàrdia Urbana agent were injured, and firefighters responded to 33 incidents of street fires.
The police have set up an investigation team that is analyzing images and other evidence to identify those responsible for the call.
Similar preventative operations were carried out on Sunday in Granollers, Mataró and Girona, where 131, 16 and 0 individuals were respectively identified. Police continue to investigate the origins of the online networks coordinating these gatherings.
Ongoing monitoring
Authorities remain on high alert for further coordinated youth gatherings. The Mossos are analysing digital evidence collected during searches and identifications conducted prior to Saturday’s events, aiming to dismantle the organisational structure behind the unrest.
Sources: elDiario.es, Ajuntament de Barcelona.
