The security forces and bodies have carried out several operations that have left a dozen detainees related to 'Blocus' in Valencia, Bilbao, Malaga and Tenerife, before the call that this movement has launched on social networks to replicate new sabotage and looting in businesses this Saturday, October 31, coinciding with the celebration of Halloween.
The detainees are accused of instigating multiple lootings, calling on young people to support the protest using weapons and also to carry out Molotov cocktails, all with the aim of "overwhelming" the police who confront the sabotage.
For this reason, security forces, including regional and local police, have multiplied the monitoring of social networks and have prepared special devices. In addition, many businesses have shielded themselves by covering their windows with wooden boards in the center of cities such as Madrid, Valencia or Barcelona, with the Catalan capital being the one in which the most riots are expected, as happened last Saturday.
The considered leader of 'Blocus' in Spain was arrested in Picanya (Valencia) this Friday, 24 hours before Halloween. The Information Headquarters of the Civil Guard accuses this 20-year-old young man of being “founder and main promoter” of the violent movement.
The investigation began following a video spread online in which a hooded man called on other young people to support the sabotage, in imitation of what had previously happened in France, since, he said, with the "peaceful protests they were not paid any attention."
"We have no possibility of getting decent housing, we don't even have good healthcare, the schools are increasingly screwed up. And they laugh in our faces and then do what they want with our money," said this hooded man, who stressed that the movement did not sympathize with any political party.
The Civil Guard has indicated that the person arrested in Picanya had the objective of “directing the looting in real time” in businesses in several cities that he considered accessible during this Saturday, when many young people plan to celebrate Halloween.
In addition to its Telegram channel, 'Blocus' attracts followers with TikTok videos and posters, made with artificial intelligence and QR codes, from where interested parties are referred to WhatsApp and Telegram groups and, later, to private channels.
In another operation, the Civil Guard has also arrested two young people in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of them a minor under 16 years of age, accused of using encrypted communication tools to evade tracking and spreading instructions to commit acts of vandalism and sabotage, including slogans to "overwhelm the Security Forces and Corps."
The National Police has warned of a hoax campaign in which an audio of a young woman has been widely disseminated who said: "Anita, a quick thing, I just received information from within the Police. Apparently this weekend in central Madrid is going to get super fat, okay?" In parallel, the National Police has carried out different operations with a balance of four detainees between Thursday and this Friday, October 30, two of them in Valencia.
The first is accused of being the creator of the 'Blocus Vlc' communication channels, now closed, in which he instigated the looting of businesses in Valencia city, with one of them exceeding 400 users. The second detainee in Valencia was arrested after instigating the making and throwing of Molotov cocktails during the protests. “He encouraged the use of incendiary bombs to create chaos and distract the Security Forces and Corps, and thus be able to loot the businesses,” the Police said.
The National Police also arrested in Bilbao the administrator of a 'Blocus' account from which people were calling to provoke incidents during Halloween in the city center, pointing out businesses and sharing instructions for making explosive devices and Molotov cocktails.
The same thing happened with another 20-year-old young man in Malaga, arrested for giving instructions to his followers inciting the use of weapons. In his case, he marked businesses in Malaga capital and Fuengirola and Marbella as targets.
The first arrests of young people related to 'Blocus' were carried out by the Mossos d'Esquadra following the serious disturbances of October 24 in the center of Barcelona: 'in situ' they arrested 128 people, 72 of them minors, which raised alarm due to the ability to attract young people. The Prosecutor's Office has requested 8 internments and 70 supervised releases for detained minors.
The Mossos asked the Intelligence Center against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO) of the Ministry of the Interior to urge the platforms to close the channels that broadcast these calls.
In addition, the Catalan police have made several other arrests: a 17-year-old minor in Barcelona accused of promoting and coordinating the riots; another 16-year-old minor arrested in Bellmunt d'Urgell (Lleida) and another 18-year-old located in Barcelona for publicizing the protests.
The Mossos plan to activate a level 4 device (the maximum for mobilizations on public roads) with the aim of "shielding" Barcelona from a new 'Blocus' call this Saturday in various parts of the city starting at 5:00 p.m.
