Following the looting and arson in the centre of Barcelona on 24 October 2026 police are investigating Mossos d'Esquadra the digital mobilisation behind the riots. The focus is on calls and instructions circulated in the days before the incident via Telegram, TikTok and WhatsApp . At present, no individual demonstrably in charge who issued instructions during the offences has been identified.
Catalonia's interior minister, Núria Parlon, spoke on 26 October of deliberate attempts to destabilise the region. She said she would ask the courts for help identifying anonymous accounts and, if necessary, seek the closure of relevant groups. The Generalitat de Catalunya is basing its actions on initial police analyses of the calls, as well as reports and witness statements concerning property damage and injuries. According to the authorities, there have been numerous arrests, including of minors.
Research by Maldita.es shows that new profiles and channels emerged under the hashtag “Blocus”, using links and QR codes to direct people to messaging groups. Some groups contained guidance on what to do – such as wearing black or using masks. However, this does not establish a hierarchical chain of command. Investigators distinguish between people who circulated calls online and those who committed offences at the scene.
The Mossos d'Esquadra are currently securing evidence from public posts and data accessible under reporting regulations. The aim is to identify those responsible and prosecute them where involvement in offences can be proven. At the same time, the interior ministry stresses the limits of police communications: not every instance of coordination documented online is admissible in court, and individual attributions require reliable evidence.
Business associations in Barcelona are meanwhile calling for increased security measures in the coming days. According to media reports, further calls to gather on specific dates are circulating in several channels. Police have announced a visible presence and interventions as the situation requires. Political figures warn against allowing speculation about supposed masterminds to get ahead of the investigation.
What is established is that the current debate was triggered by the riots of 24 October 2026 and the regional government's subsequent announcements. Whether there was also a central leadership remains under investigation and has not been proven so far.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).