Spanish police make 128 overnight arrests in Barcelona for 'looting'

Police in Barcelona have made 128 overnight arrests for acts of vandalism, damage to public property and looting, reports the Catalan regional police. Seventy-three of those detained were minors, with the reports to be forwarded to the juvenile prosecutor's office, said police chief Silvia Cata. Footage on social media showed groups of young people, many wearing all-black attire, attacking businesses after gathering in Barcelona's city center for a rally that had not been authorized by authorities.

The unrest is part of a broader trend across Europe, with incidents of looting and violence occurring in France, Italy and Albania. Only two of the 128 people detained in Barcelona had prior criminal records, and 15 officers were injured during the night. Police chief Cata described the actions as "gratuitous violence" and noted that 23 premises were vandalized.

The movement, she added, was completely disorganized, but the call to rally had spread via social media. Police are working to determine the profile of those in custody. Catalonia's regional president, Salvador Illa, called for the rioters to pay for their actions, while the leader of the right-wing opposition, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, urged a shift in Spain that stems from the ballot box, emphasizing the need for coexistence based on responsibility.