Halloween riot plans: four arrested in Palma, Mallorca

Four arrests in Palma, Mallorca: police are investigating alleged plans for Halloween riots and looting linked to a network called Blocus. The Spanish National Police say they detained the four over the past week. In a statement on 5 November, the force reports 18 arrests across seven Spanish cities, including 13 minors.

Plans shared online

Police say people linked to Blocus used social media and digital channels to name targets and places for the planned unrest. Posts also urged the use of weapons and shared instructions for making homemade incendiary devices, including Molotov cocktails.

Those arrested are suspected of conspiring to cause public disorder and commit property offences, and of belonging to an organised group.

How the investigation spread

The investigation began after disturbances in Barcelona on 24 October. Police say they then detected the threat spreading rapidly towards Mallorca and other places. Besides the four arrests in Palma, there were four in Málaga, three each in València and Barcelona, two in Lleida, and one each in Bilbao and Sevilla.

Police say cities were placed under heavy security and shops suffered serious financial losses. The force gives no loss figure for Palma. Investigators are still tracing digital activity and say further arrests are possible.

Topics: Police · Arrests · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com