Barcelona Unrest Leaves 128 Arrested as France Reports More Than 1,300 Detentions

Police say 72 of those arrested in Barcelona were minors after violence erupted during an unauthorised gathering in the city centre. The incidents came amid another weekend of demonstrations across France.

A night of unrest in central Barcelona has resulted in 128 arrests, including 72 minors, after an unauthorised gathering in Plaça de Catalunya escalated into violence on Saturday, October 24, according to reports citing Catalonia’s regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra.

Police said the gathering brought hundreds of young people into the city centre following a call circulated through social media, particularly TikTok. Authorities are investigating how the gathering was organised and whether online groups played a role in coordinating the disturbances.

The arrests included 122 men and six women. Reports also indicated that two of those detained had previous records related to public disorder.

Businesses damaged and officers injured

The disturbances caused damage to businesses and public property. According to the police figures reported by Spanish news agencies, 23 businesses were vandalised, while firefighters carried out 33 interventions related to fires involving street furniture and other urban objects.

Reports differed slightly on the number of injured police officers, with figures ranging from 14 to 15. Four officers were reported to have sustained serious injuries.

The events have raised concerns about the use of social media to mobilise groups rapidly and the challenges faced by authorities when gatherings develop into violent incidents.

Police have continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the gathering, including the role of online accounts in encouraging participation.

France records 1,314 arrests during nationwide demonstrations

The unrest in Barcelona occurred as France experienced another major day of demonstrations on Saturday.

France’s Interior Ministry reported 289 public demonstrations nationwide, with an estimated 410,000 participants, including 110,000 in Paris. Authorities recorded 1,314 arrests and 53 injured members of the security forces.

The ministry also reported 75 fire-related interventions and 24 businesses looted. It described the figures as provisional.

The official attendance estimate was lower than the figure reported by trade unions, which put participation at approximately 800,000 people nationwide. The difference reflects competing estimates of the scale of the demonstrations.

Although many marches proceeded under agreed routes and police supervision, authorities said some groups were involved in attacks and property damage.

Authorities face questions over public safety

The incidents in Barcelona and France underline the challenges of maintaining public order during large gatherings, particularly when some participants engage in violence or vandalism.

However, the events should not automatically be treated as a single coordinated movement. Similarities in timing or social media mobilisation do not, on their own, establish a direct connection between incidents in different countries.

Investigations in Barcelona are ongoing, and further verified information from police and local authorities may clarify how the gathering was organised and whether additional arrests will follow.