Blocus coordinated looting in Barcelona through thematic chats about jewellery and luxury goods
The Mossos d'Esquadra revealed how WhatsApp channels with names such as "Joyerías bcn" organised coordinated robberies at luxury shops during the disturbances of 24 October in Barcelona.
Thematic chats to coordinate pillaging
According to El Confidencial, the Mossos d'Esquadra have analysed a network of chats that functioned as a "virtual coordination space" for looting commercial establishments during the Blocus protests of 24 October in Barcelona. The so-called Blocus phenomenon orchestrated robberies through thematic subgroups such as "General", "Clothing", "Essentials" and "Jewellery bcn", revealing an organisational structure that was documented in a report by the Mossos' General Information Commissariat, which EFE accessed.
The police investigation concludes that these groups did not have protest as their primary objective, but rather "criminal exploitation" of public disorder to steal high-value objects. The Mossos maintain that planning was coordinated in these chats with the intention of causing "major incidents" in the city and benefiting from the chaos to loot with "impunity and thanks to the protection of the group".
Logistical coordination and target selection
In the days leading up to 24 October, logistical instructions, meeting locations, information about police deployments and operational guidelines circulated among the groups. The first police detection occurred on 21 October, when a TikTok profile (@manifestaciones.bcn) disseminated a poster with a QR code linking to the group "Manifestaciones BCN", created with 661 members. In parallel, another profile disseminated the same poster with a QR code directing to "Manifestation without permission", a public channel to which a Mossos officer gained access.
From the "Manifestation without permission" group, a community was configured with several subgroups that served for the "prior preparation" of those who participated in the altercations. Through these channels access was granted to "Jewellery bcn 24 October", which initially had 64 members and where information was exchanged about commercial targets susceptible to being looted by taking advantage of the disorder.
Identified targets and robbery strategies
The Mossos, who infiltrated the "Jewellery bcn" channel, documented that jewellery shops, boutiques of brands Louis Vuitton and Gucci, technology establishments such as Apple Store, Mediamarkt, Nike, JD Sports and Foot Locker were mentioned repeatedly. The report emphasises that in this chat the selection of shops susceptible to being looted was profiled, the economic value of the objects to be stolen and the time slots most favourable for carrying out the robberies.
Guidance was also shared for complicating police identification, bypassing controls before, during and after the incidents, organising movements and concealing stolen material. Some users also previously verified the commercial targets to check their security measures.
Attempts to reactivate after the chaos of 24 October
Following the disturbances of 24 October, several users launched a new call in Barcelona for 31 October through different Telegram channels, which have been closed. That day, with the city centre cordoned off by the Mossos, no incidents were recorded. Since then, the Blocus phenomenon has shown barely any activity on social media, according to the Catalan police. The report was sent to the court investigating those who promoted these chats that coordinated the looting.
Source: El Confidencial