Going out shopping, attending a party or strolling through the center will not have this Saturday, October 31, the same context in all cities. The calls spread under the name of Blocus and the fear of new incidents have led to preventive measures, protections in shop windows and police deployments. But the recommendations of the authorities vary from one capital to another.
Valencia has asked people to avoid the center during the afternoon. Barcelona temporarily modifies the use of some streets to facilitate the passage of security vehicles. Madrid combines transport monitoring, inspections of premises and health reinforcements. In Sevilla, the authorities have conveyed messages of calm in the face of rumors about looting.
To organize Halloween plans, the distinction is important: a preventive operation does not mean that the disturbances are going to occur, and a protected shop window does not confirm that the establishment has canceled its opening.
Barcelona: the Saturday stroll changes in some commercial streets
In Barcelona, one of the most concrete consequences affects those who take advantage of Saturdays to walk along streets temporarily reserved for pedestrians.
According to El País, the City Council has suspended the usual traffic cuts on axes such as Gran de Gràcia and Sants-Creu Coberta. The goal is to allow security vehicles to circulate if necessary.
The measure means canceling that temporary pedestrianization, not closing those streets to the public. For those who had planned to stroll through them, the usual Saturday setup changes: they should not take it for granted that they will be able to use the roadway as a pedestrian space.
In parallel, various businesses on paseo de Gràcia, plaza de Catalunya, Portal de l'Àngel and other axes have placed protections in their shop windows. El País reports these actions in fashion, sports, jewelry and luxury establishments.
The installation of panels is a material precaution. To know whether a store is keeping its hours, one must check with the establishment itself; it does not allow one to deduce a general closure of Barcelona commerce.
Valencia: the municipal recommendation is to avoid the center in the afternoon
Valencia has issued a more restrictive recommendation for travel. The City Council has asked citizens to avoid going to the center during Saturday afternoon.
The mayor, María José Catalá, also announced that the extraordinary Local Police personnel initially planned for Halloween will be doubled. She also announced the removal of containers and street furniture from the city center at the request of the National Police.
These are changes that may affect both those who go out shopping and residents and workers. The request to avoid the city center is a municipal recommendation: it does not, by itself, amount to a general ban on circulation.
The day also coincides with the demonstration for the second anniversary of the dana, scheduled for 18:00 hours, according to information from El País. That mobilization must be distinguished from the calls attributed to Blocus: sharing an afternoon and an urban environment does not prove a connection between both convocations.
For any journey, it is advisable to check the mobility notices and possible detours published during the day.
Madrid: surveillance on buses and controls at the festivities
In Madrid, the municipal operation has several tasks and covers the entire festive period. The 1,700 officers announced are not intended exclusively to prevent incidents linked to Blocus.
The City Council breaks down 920 personnel for the surveillance of cemeteries and their access points, 350 to inspect venues and Halloween parties, and 430 to protect EMT buses against acts of vandalism.
For those going out tonight, the measures most directly related to their plans are the control of capacity, the presence of minors, and the closing hours of the venues. Alcohol and drug checks are also planned, as well as a health reinforcement of around 20 SAMUR-Protección Civil units.
To that deployment is added a warning about the information circulating by messaging. Interior and the National Police have denied having issued the supposed alert about serious disturbances spread through audio messages and WhatsApp messages.
The denial refers to those specific communications. It does not mean that preventive surveillance has been withdrawn, nor does it make it possible to guarantee that there will be no incidents.
Bilbao: protected shop windows and surveillance of the shopping center
In Bilbao, the most visible image of the preparation is in the shop windows of the Gran Vía. Radio Bilbao has documented the placement of panels and other protections during Friday in the face of fears of possible disturbances this Saturday.
The concern also has a specific police aspect. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the arrest of a 20-year-old man as the alleged administrator of an account linked to Blocus Bilbao and of a channel from which, according to the investigation, incidents were being promoted and commercial establishments were being singled out.
The arrest is part of an investigation and does not amount to a conviction. Nor does it make it possible to anticipate how many people will attend the calls spread on social networks.
For those who have a purchase or an appointment in the center, the useful thing is to check the operation of the specific business. The protection of a storefront does not by itself establish its hours nor imply that the entire commercial area is closed.
Seville: commercial precautions despite the messages of reassurance
In Seville, two situations coexist: some businesses have protected their entrances and the authorities have rejected rumors that gave the lootings as certain.
VerificaRTVE reports that the National Police conveyed a message of reassurance to the commercial sector and denied the basis for certain alerts. The Nervión Plaza shopping center explained to the verifier that it had consulted those messages with the security forces and prepared preventive measures.
According to the information from lavozdelsur.es, the announced deployment includes 185 national police officers and 303 local police officers. The Government subdelegate has stated that there is no record of a serious threat in the capital.
The presence of those personnel responds to prevention during Halloween and should not be presented as proof that a confirmed attack is expected.
What to check before leaving this Saturday
Practical decisions depend on each city and each establishment. Before traveling, it is advisable to check the notices from the city council and the corresponding transport operator, especially if the route passes through an area with gatherings or special measures.
If the plan depends on a store, a restaurant, or a party, confirmation must come from the organizer or from the business itself. Photographs of covered shop windows do not replace a closure announcement.
And when faced with an audio that attributes instructions to the police, the important thing is to locate the original statement. This Saturday there are already official measures that affect travel and commercial activity; adding false notices makes them harder to distinguish.