Violent groups in Barcelona attacked with "high-powered pyrotechnics", rockets and Molotov cocktails in another day of chaos and riots

Barcelona experienced last night, after the demonstration for the general strike, a new day of strong disturbances and chaos in the streets of the center, the second episode of violence after the Blocus altercations on October 24 (not counting the failed call attempt on the 31st, for Halloween). The use of "high-power" pyrotechnics, rockets launched with PVC pipes, Molotov cocktails and the subsequent fires, spread simultaneously across several consecutive streets in the center were the differential features of a protest that ended with 52 detainees, six of them minors.

The serious incidents began on the corner of Paseo de Gràcia and Plaza de Catalunya, in front of the Apple store. After starting a fire in the area of ​​the exterior entrance and trying to enter the interior with the use of explosives, the riot police acted and prevented a large group of hooded people who were still there from advancing towards Passeig de Gràcia. The agents tried to disperse the hooded men around Plaza de Catalunya and it was then that the serious incidents were replicated throughout the area, with burning of containers, barricades, destruction of street furniture, as well as smashed shop windows in several businesses.

This Thursday morning, the chief police station of the Mossos, Sílvia Catà, appeared at the Interior headquarters of the Generalitat together with counselor Núria Parlon and explained that the "violent", "radical", "anti-system" groups used high-powered pyrotechnics against the police line and two Apple and H&M stores were attacked with Molotov cocktails. In fact, the police seized two explosives from two detained minors that they were going to use in the altercations.

Regarding the launch of rockets and "large caliber" pyrotechnics, the attacks were "horizontal" against the deployed police line, and were carried out with PVC pipes or a battery system for very powerful firecrackers. According to the Mossos, these violent groups knew what they were going to do with the material used and had the objective of causing "fear and chaos." In the body they explain that this way of attacking the police has spread throughout Europe in recent months.

Councilor Parlon, for her part, has described the perpetrators of the attacks as "violent criminals" and has described as "sinister" some of the behavior seen last night in the streets of the center of Barcelona.

Of the 52 detainees, two of them were already arrested on October 24 within the framework of the Blocus call, but the Mossos rule out that this phenomenon that occurred at the end of last month was behind the violent actions of this Wednesday. Regarding those affected, last night's attacks left 36 police officers injured, seven of them on sick leave.

In Barcelona, ​​42 fires and barricades have been recorded in the city center and the Mossos police investigation remains open and new arrests are not ruled out after the altercations.