Barcelona’s city centre remained calm on Saturday, October 31, after police mounted a large operation to deter a repeat of the looting and disorder seen a week earlier. There were no significant gatherings, and the police presence allowed people to use the area without further disruption, according to the source article.
Some shops installed extra security or closed early, despite the lost sales. Their precautions, along with the visible police deployment, were the main reminders of the October 24 unrest, which the article describes as an unusually extensive episode of looting in the city’s recent history.
The Mossos d’Esquadra and Barcelona’s Urban Guard were among the agencies involved in the response to calls for another gathering on October 31. The operation included more than 500 Mossos officers and support from cybercrime units. Authorities identified 2,264 people across Catalonia, including 1,440 in Barcelona, and issued 181 reports, many relating to the possession of potentially harmful objects or narcotics.
The article credits the response not only to police numbers but also to broad opposition to looting from schools, the courts, news organisations and political parties. It notes that 73 minors were detained on October 24, and says subsequent judicial measures included the placement of five minors in custody and supervised release for 72 others.
It also warns that Barcelona cannot rely indefinitely on large police deployments to respond to anonymous calls on social media. Investigations into those organising the gatherings remain important, the article says, while shops’ concerns and the city’s reliance on tourism are factors in the response to future unrest.
Sources: La Vanguardia.