Police say a hidden commander directed teenage vandals during Barcelona riots

Following severe disturbances and looting in Barcelona on Saturday, police focus on uncovering the mastermind behind the organized vandalism. The Mossos d'Esquadra have dismissed political or ideological drivers and are monitoring TikTok and Telegram channels where the raids were planned. Journalist Toni Muñoz, citing internal messages, described a command structure that dictated participants' attire, anonymity measures and specific street routes.

He suggested the hidden leader could be serving political groups that scapegoat immigration or foreign powers such as Russia, Israel or the United States seeking to destabilise Spain. The operation relied heavily on minors, accounting for 72 of the 128 detainees, prompting the Fiscalía to request internment orders for the gravest offenders and restraining orders for lesser cases. Spanish law also holds parents or guardians civilly liable for damages caused by their detained children.