MADRID, Spain – The National Police has detained a 17-year-old Senegalese minor in Valencia as the alleged person responsible for promoting looting and pillaging of commercial establishments in the city through instant messaging channels, with the investigation indicating that the young man created two groups under the name “Blocus Vlc” to coordinate actions against shops, especially in the city centre, planned for Saturday 31 October.
What lies behind Blocus: the anonymous group that encouraged the Barcelona riots
The detention took place on the morning of Wednesday 28 October after officers investigated the activity of these channels, created at the start of the week, with the detainee attributed alleged crimes of conspiracy to commit public disorder, conspiracy to commit crimes against property and belonging to an organised group. According to information provided by the National Police, the minor allegedly played a leadership role within the groups, giving orders and instructions to participants, communicating the dates and times planned for the raids and pointing to commercial establishments in Valencia as possible targets. He is also alleged to have encouraged members to spread the channels on social media in order to expand the number of participants.
The investigation indicates that the groups were not limited to making general calls but also served to exchange instructions on how to carry out the lootings, with participants allegedly going as far as planning the procedure they would follow during the raids on shops. Among the actions mentioned in the channels was the possibility of starting fires to distract officers while the lootings were committed, with the National Police maintaining that the aim was to coordinate actions among group members and facilitate the participation of more people, though the facts described form part of the investigation and criminal responsibilities will have to be determined in accordance with judicial procedure.
After the detention, the young man was placed under investigation for three alleged crimes: conspiracy to commit public disorder, conspiracy to carry out crimes against property and belonging to an organised group. The Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office ordered his internment in a juvenile centre as a precautionary measure, a decision adopted within the framework of the corresponding procedure without the detention or the precautionary measure themselves implying a conviction.
Eight Arrested As Violent Riots Erupt In Mataró Following Court-ordered Eviction
The two communication channels identified by investigators, named “Blocus Vlc”, have already been closed, with one of the groups having exceeded 400 users according to data released by the National Police, evidencing the reach the call had achieved on messaging applications. The investigation remains open to fully clarify the facts and determine whether other people participated in planning or promoting the announced actions, with the National Police maintaining its inquiries to pin down the scope of the groups’ activity and the possible responsibilities of their members.
