Generalitat Urges TikTok and WhatsApp to Identify Blocus Creators
Catalan Government Demands Social Media Identification of Blocus Riot Organizers
The Generalitat of Catalonia has formally urged TikTok, WhatsApp, and Telegram to remove groups inciting urban violence and to identify the creators behind the anonymous platform Blocus, reported on October 26, 2026. Two days after severe riots broke out in central Barcelona, the origin of the coordinated vandalism remains unverified as regional authorities attempt to dismantle the violent network.
The Tech TL;DR:
- Catalan authorities demanded user identities and group removal from TikTok, WhatsApp, and Telegram following coordinated riots organized via Blocus.
- The defunct platform utilized a QR code directing participants to closed chat groups detailing dress codes and pyrotechnic use.
- Police report 130 arrests, including 76 minors, as investigators brace for potential further unrest ahead of scheduled dates.
Blocus Used QR Codes to Organize Violent Protests
The now-deleted Blocus platform relied on an embedded QR code that redirected users to closed chat groups. Within those channels, organizers instructed participants to dress entirely in black, cover their faces, and bring pyrotechnic materials to the demonstrations. Following the clashes, the Blocus platform disappeared from the web, leaving investigators searching for digital footprints.
Regional interior head Núria Parlon addressed the dissemination methods during a press briefing, stating: “They are groups inciting violence, riots, and committing crimes; it is not tolerable, one can mobilize and be angry about their future, but one cannot commit pillage, disorders, and cause chaos,” as reported.
Mossos d'Esquadra Arrest 130 People Including Many Minors
The latest operational figures released by the Mossos d’Esquadra confirm 130 total arrests stemming from the Saturday disturbances. Among those detained, 76 are minors, with several individuals under the age of 14—a phenomenon unusual in this type of urban rioting. Prosecutors have requested the internment of six individuals facing the most severe allegations, alongside twenty provisional liberty warrants.
With public safety resources stretched, the regional administration faces mounting pressure from local merchants and restaurant associations regarding the adequacy of the initial police deployment. Barcelona Jaume Collboni announced a municipal relief fund of 500,000 euros to absorb a portion of the incurred damages. Simultaneously, security forces are preparing for subsequent dates of concern, most notably October 31, as authorities fear potential disturbances during Halloween celebrations in the city.
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