The Mossos d'Esquadra activate a maximum deployment for Wednesday's general strike, with a level 4 out of 4. They fear pickets early on and disturbances after the large afternoon demonstration.
The Mossos d'Esquadra will deploy 9,000 officers for the general strike on Wednesday, which is 50% more than on a typical day. The General Information Commissioner (CGI) has classified the operation at level 4 out of 4, the highest, due to the risk of informational pickets early on and disturbances after the afternoon demonstrations.
According to police sources, the officers will work in four shifts from early morning until the next night. The last shift will be extended if there are disturbances after the large mobilization in the afternoon, which in Barcelona could exceed 50,000 people.
Traffic incidents are expected to start early. Serious problems are anticipated from 6 or 7 AM on the AP-7, C-58, C-17, C-32, and the Rondas de Barcelona, where there could be traffic disruptions. The Trànsit control centres will monitor the situation from the CECOR and the Catalonia Traffic Information Centre (CECAT).
Pickets are also a concern at logistics centres, ports, and the Barcelona Airport. For those needing to travel, the police recommend planning routes carefully and leaving with enough time to avoid traffic jams.
The officers will ensure that pickets moving from one point to another limit themselves to informing and do not prevent entry for workers who do not support the strike. The greatest concern is that, after the morning marches and especially after the afternoon mobilization, some "combative groups" may take advantage of the large gathering to set fire to containers, erect barricades, or throw objects at the police.
To contain them, the Brimo and Arro will act with police defence and, if necessary, with OC gas, as long as the situation demands it. The same sources explain that the deployment will not repeat the strategy of October 31 in Barcelona, when there were over 2,200 identifications at public transport filters and in the main commercial axes.
For about two weeks, the CGI has been closely monitoring the phenomenon of groups known as Blocus. They do not believe these groups are organizing to commit crimes during the strike, although they do not rule out that some individuals may infiltrate the gatherings and end up looting, as happened in February 2021 during the protests over the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasél.
With the highest alert level, plainclothes officers and the Citizen Security Unit will be able to identify specific protesters to remove pyrotechnic materials and other objects that could cause disturbances.
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