Mossos Arrest Nine Graffiti Artists for 53 Attacks on Trains in Catalonia

The arrested individuals, aged between 20 and 36, caused damages exceeding €229,000 to FGC, Rodalies, and TMB trains. Five of them are repeat offenders in this type of crime.

The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested nine individuals, aged between 20 and 36, accused of 53 counts of damage due to graffiti on trains and railway facilities in Catalonia. The total cost of the damages exceeds €229,000, according to the Catalan police.

The operation, coordinated by the Central Airport and Public Transport Area (ACAT), concluded on 29 September with the arrests, although the investigation began in March 2024 as part of the MURAL initiative.

The suspects illegally accessed railway premises to paint large-scale graffiti on parked trains. The affected companies include Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), Rodalies de Catalunya (Renfe), and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB).

The incidents occurred in several Catalan municipalities, such as Sant Vicenç de Calders, Martorell, Sitges, Montcada i Reixac, Cornellà, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Ripoll, Garraf, Granollers, Sant Vicenç de Castellet, and Badalona.

Of the nine arrested, four had no prior connection to graffiti damage crimes. The other five have a repeat offender profile, with some also having records for property crimes.

All of them were released on the same day as their arrest, pending summons by the judicial authority to testify.

"Vandalism on trains not only causes economic harm but also affects the operation of the railway service," the Mossos stated.

The graffiti necessitate temporarily removing trains from service for cleaning and repairs. This results in delays for users and an environmental impact due to restoration work.

The Catalan police also warn that intrusions into railway facilities can jeopardise the safety of infrastructure and individuals.

To curb these incidents, the Mossos have increased police presence at stations and intensified investigations across the railway network. This year, several IRIS operations have been deployed at stations in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, with specific patrols and the involvement of the Drone Unit to identify vulnerable points.

The operations include ongoing coordination with the security services of railway companies and infrastructure managers, as well as citizen security units and private surveillance teams.

The aim is to prevent and detect vandalism before it occurs and to better protect the spaces of the Catalan railway network. The arrested individuals will have to appear before the judge when summoned.