Masked groups burn dumpsters and throw stones at police near Barcelona's Plaça de Catalunya, Catalan police say
The Mossos d'Esquadra urged people to stay away. Riot police moved in after a protest called on social media, and city police closed access to the square, RTVE reported.
As of 3:43 p.m. ET, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
Violent groups of people with their faces covered were burning dumpsters, vandalizing street furniture and throwing stones at police around Plaça de Catalunya in central Barcelona on Saturday, Catalonia's regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, said.
"We recommend that you do not approach, for your safety," the Mossos said in a post on X at 2:24 p.m. ET (8:24 p.m. in Barcelona) (translated from Catalan). The post included video from the area.
Dozens of young people had gathered in the square Saturday afternoon for a protest called on social media, Spain's public broadcaster RTVE reported. Citing Catalan police sources, RTVE said some began damaging street furniture, which led riot police to deploy and intervene.
Barcelona's city police, the Guàrdia Urbana, closed access to Plaça de Catalunya from Plaça d'Urquinaona to Universitat, and shops in the area lowered their shutters, according to RTVE. Protesters scattered in several groups that clashed with police and caused damage near the square, the broadcaster reported.
What is not known
Police had not given a count of injuries or arrests when this was written, and the number of people involved is not known.
Related: France deploys about 70,000 police for Saturday protests.
Sources
- Mossos d'Esquadra (@mossos) on X (Catalan), Oct. 24, 2026, 2:24 PM ET (18:24 UTC)
- RTVE, "Una protesta de estudiantes en Barcelona degenera en disturbios y enfrentamientos con los Mossos d'Esquadra" (Spanish), Oct. 24, 2026, 2:23 PM ET (18:23 UTC), updated 2:49 PM ET (18:49 UTC)
