World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Youth protest in central Barcelona turns violent, shops close
A youth protest in central Barcelona turned violent on Saturday, with clashes between demonstrators and the Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra.
The gathering was called through social media under the name Instituts Indignats and drew dozens of young people to Plaça de Catalunya.
It followed a wave of student protests in France that has also spread to other European cities.
Some demonstrators damaged shops and street furniture, set fires and threw objects at police, according to the reports.
Many shops closed their shutters as the unrest grew, and hundreds of people were left inside El Corte Inglés and nearby stores.
Tourists and other people in the busy city centre were caught by surprise, while police and city officers closed nearby streets and urged people to avoid the area.
Catalonia's president, Salvador Illa, condemned the violence and defended the police response; the reports do not say what further action will follow.
A youth protest in central Barcelona turned violent on Saturday, with clashes between demonstrators and police, fires, damage and attempted looting.
The gathering took place around Plaça de Catalunya and was called through social media under the slogan “Instituts Indignats.”
Police and city officials said officers intervened after damage began, while some protesters later dispersed into smaller groups.
Shops in the area lowered their shutters or closed, and hundreds of people were reportedly trapped inside El Corte Inglés and nearby stores.
Catalan President Salvador Illa said violence had no place in Catalonia and defended the police response.
- Who
- Dozens of young people, many wearing black and some with their faces covered, took part. Mossos d'Esquadra officers intervened.
- What
- A youth protest developed into clashes, fires, damage to street furniture and attempted looting.
- When
- Saturday, 24 October 2026; the first incidents were reported shortly after 18:30.
- Where
- Plaça de Catalunya and nearby streets in central Barcelona.
- Why
- The gathering was called through social media under the slogan “Instituts Indignats”; some banners called for protest “against the system.” A specific organizer or fuller motive was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A youth gathering called through social media assembled at Plaça de Catalunya.
The first incidents were reported in central Barcelona.
Demonstrators dispersed into smaller groups, and clashes and damage spread around the centre.
Catalan police warned that people with covered faces were burning bins, damaging street furniture and throwing stones at officers.
- Location
- Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona
- Date
- Saturday, 24 October 2026
- Gathering slogan
- Instituts Indignats
- Police force
- Mossos d'Esquadra
- Reported crowd
- Dozens of young people
- Retail impact
- Shops in the area closed or lowered their shutters
3 sources
Cientos de personas quedan atrapadas en El Corte Inglés de la plaza Catalunya de Barcelona por las protestas juveniles
Una protesta de estudiantes en Barcelona degenera en disturbios y enfrentamientos con los Mossos d'Esquadra
Disturbios, cargas, quema de contenedores y tiendas cerradas en el centro de Barcelona por una protesta de jóvenes convocada por redes sociales
What people are saying
Violence has no place in Catalonia
Protesting is a democratic right, but assaulting, intimidating or causing damage is not
Acts of vandalism and violence are utterly intolerable
Posts on X
Centres comercials i botigues de plaça Catalunya de Barcelona han tancat portes pels incidents a l'exterior en una protesta "contra el sistema" convocada per xarxes. Imatges de l'interior d'El Corte Inglés, amb els clients esperant poder sortir a fora https://t.co/NQZAd0sIAF
Altercados en el centro de Barcelona en el marco de una protesta convocada por supuestos estudiantes a través de las redes sociales La última hora, con los compañeros de @rtvenoticies
La violència no té cabuda a Catalunya. Mai. Vull agrair el treball dels @mossos d'Esquadra per protegir la ciutadania i el comerç. Protestar és un dret democràtic. Agredir, intimidar o causar destrosses no ho és. No hi ha cap causa que justifiqui la violència. Qui protesta