The Catalan Police will mobilise 9,000 agents across Catalonia for the general strike on Wednesday. Despite the maximum risk level, no threats linked to Blocus have been detected so far.
The Mossos d'Esquadra have classified the day of 11-N with a risk level of four out of four, the highest on their scale. The operation will be organised in four shifts from Tuesday night to Wednesday night, and will involve double the number of agents compared to a normal day during peak hours.
According to sources from the force, there is currently no threat bearing the mark of Blocus, the network of calls circulating on social media and technology platforms that was behind the disturbances and looting in central Barcelona on October 24. Commanders believe that the recent spate of arrests over the past two weeks has neutralised that threat.
The Mossos are preparing a maximum alert operation for the general strike on Wednesday, with a high combative threat anticipated.
The operation will not resemble that of October 31, when the police presence in the capital and its metropolitan area prevented the images from the previous week from recurring. On that day, there were 10 arrests, 2,264 identifications, and 181 reports for knives or harmful objects such as stones or aerosols.
The Mossos' forecast for the afternoon gathering in central Barcelona on Wednesday is between 50,000 and 100,000 attendees. This volume increases the risk of incidents, especially towards the end of the day, according to the force itself.
Last week, the Catalan Police published a review of its protocol for the use of OC spray, known as pepper spray, in the actions of the ARRO and Brimo units. Sources from the Mossos have explained that this Wednesday it will not be used in response to passive resistance, unless an extraordinary situation justifies it.
For those travelling to central Barcelona on Wednesday, practical advice is to expect delays in traffic and public transport due to the gathering and increased police presence.
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