Spanish investigative news site Newtral discovered over 20 TikTok profiles operating as recruitment channels to mobilize protesters in Spain, with the invitation to replicate in the country the unrest that occurred in France. The online network, which operates under the banner “Blocus,” gained particular interest following violent clashes in central Barcelona where groups of youths confronted the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police force.
The investigation revealed that the first recruitment profiles emerged between October 18 and October 19. These accounts spread calls to mobilize in several Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, and Bilbao. Interested users on TikTok were directed toward closed groups on WhatsApp and Telegram, where organizers shared specific instructions on the demonstrations and how to participate.
Tactical Instructions and Messaging Group Crackdowns
Within the encrypted chat groups, administrators instructed participants to wear dark clothing and conceal their faces. Messages analyzed by investigators also contained instructions regarding the use of smoke bombs, sprays, and other materials. Some calls to action explicitly urged participants to damage commercial establishments and large retail surfaces.
Investigators identified groups with hundreds of participants. According to the broadcaster laSexta, one of the chats, which had reached approximately 900 members, was closed after the start of verifications on the recruitment activities. Spanish authorities are currently examining the links between the social media accounts and the episodes of violence in Barcelona, while also verifying potential relations with groups active abroad.
Arrests and Political Reactions in Catalonia
The October 24 clashes in Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya resulted in at least 130 arrests, with more than half of those detained being minors. The disturbances involved individuals hurling stones and bottles at officers, setting fire to municipal waste containers, vandalizing urban furniture, and looting local retail businesses.
Salvador Illa condemned the violence, asserting that the fundamental right to protest does not excuse assault, intimidation, or the destruction of public and private property. Barcelona Jaume Collboni announced that the city administration intends to seek compensation for the damages caused, evaluating the responsibilities of participants and, in the cases of minors, those of the parents. Meanwhile, Newtral identified new calls circulating via TikTok and messaging apps for October 31, though current assessments indicate these appeals have limited reach and lack uniform organizational directives.
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