Collboni claims that the police detected the call days before the disturbances on Saturday. The incidents left 128 arrested and 23 establishments damaged.
Barcelona is preparing for possible new mobilisations following the disturbances and looting that shook the city centre on Saturday. Some of these are already circulating for Saturday, October 31, as explained by the mayor, Jaume Collboni, in statements made this Monday.
According to the mayor, the police forces had detected the call days before it led to incidents. As a preventive measure, containers and other elements of urban furniture were removed. The Mossos d'Esquadra acknowledge, however, that they were surprised by the level of violence from dispersed groups with no apparent structure.
Collboni describes what happened as senseless violence and denies that it can be considered a conventional protest.
“Senseless violence”
The investigation is now focusing on social media. The police want to know how the call originated and spread, especially on TikTok, and have already requested information from the platforms to identify its promoters. Before the incidents, data had already been collected from hundreds of profiles potentially linked to the mobilisation.
The mayor has also rejected the claim by the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who pointed to a connection with leftist sectors. Collboni maintains that it still needs to be determined who really promoted the calls.
The disturbances ended with 128 arrests, of which 72 are minors, and at least 23 establishments vandalised or looted. Several officers were also injured.
The Barcelona City Council estimates the damage to public furniture at around 36,000 euros. The council will claim this amount from the identified perpetrators, and in the case of minors, the claim may be directed to their parents or guardians.
“There will be no impunity”
Collboni will meet this Monday with representatives of the commercial sector to discuss the damages and possible assistance. The Generalitat and the City Council have announced support for the claims and, if necessary, assistance for damages not covered by insurance.
Commercial entities are calling for more prevention. Barcelona Oberta demands a direct channel between the Mossos and the establishments ahead of future calls, while the Gremi de Restauració questions the scale of the operation deployed on Saturday. This guild also complains that it was not initially invited to the meeting with the mayor, despite having criticised the police response.
With the investigation underway, the Mossos will need to determine who promoted the call and how it spread among hundreds of young people.
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