The Mossos d'Esquadra deployed a large anti-riot device this Saturday, October 24, in Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona after urban furniture fires, damages, and clashes with groups of hooded individuals were reported. The agents carried out charges to disperse the participants, while some businesses closed their shutters.
The Guardia Urbana has restricted access to the area around the square, between Urquinaona and Universitat, according to agency information published by 20minutos. The incidents occurred during a youth gathering called through social media.
A barricade with containers, trash cans, and motorcycles on Vergara Street
One of the main focal points of the disturbances has been located at the confluence of Vergara Street and Plaza Catalunya. According to information published by El Mundo, a group has erected a barricade with small containers, trash cans, and motorcycles and set it on fire.
Fires of trash cans, overturned motorcycles, and damage to two bus shelters near the barricade have also been reported. Some participants have also attacked a traffic light.
The police vans have made movements around the square, while the anti-riot officers on foot intervened to disperse the groups concentrated in their vicinity.
A call on social media and a pre-prepared device
The gathering began in the afternoon and brought together young people, many of them dressed in black and with their faces covered. The first reports provide different estimates on attendance, so there is no single verified figure of participants.
3CatInfo has reported stone-throwing and running in the area, as well as establishments that protected their windows with panels out of fear of suffering damages. The deployment of Mossos and Guardia Urbana surprised many pedestrians who were in this part of downtown Barcelona.
According to Crónica Global, the Catalan police had prepared a preventive operation in anticipation that the gathering could lead to incidents. The device included anti-riot units, citizen security, mediation, and plainclothes agents. The outlet also notes that construction materials from the public road had been removed to prevent them from being used as projectiles.
The housing camp remains in the center of the square
In parallel to the incidents, the camping for housing continued set up in the central space of plaza Catalunya. The information published by El Mundo places shortly before 18:30 a moment in which the camp had not yet been affected by the charges.
The coincidence of both events in the same square does not certify that the participants of the camp are responsible for the damages. The available information describes a youth concentration and several groups that were moving around the area.