Barcelona riots lead to 128 arrests after shops looted

Police in Barcelona arrested 128 people, including dozens of minors, for vandalism, public property damage, and looting during riots that echoed smaller-scale incidents seen in France on October 17. The unrest involved groups of youths, many dressed in black, attacking shops after gathering in a central plaza for an undeclared protest. Among those detained were 73 minors, with 14 police officers injured, according to Catalan police chief Sílvia Catà. Authorities described the violence as disorganized and fueled by social media, particularly TikTok. The riots occurred ahead of Spain's snap elections, prompting political reactions, while France separately reported 1,314 arrests from its own protests.