The arrests ahead of the Blocus call in Valencia are a defensible preventive intervention, but they are not a pre-emptive conviction of those arrested.
The documented development on Saturday is that the man the Guardia Civil describes as the “founder and promoter” of Blocus España, arrested on Friday in Picanya, was due to appear before a judge. An 18-year-old arrested in Alfafar was also brought before the duty court in Catarroja, according to police sources cited by elDiario.es. Security forces have arrested five people in recent days whom authorities link to calls for disorder, looting and pillage in Valencia on 31 October.
There is a clear case for acting before possible violence. National Police allege that the 18-year-old circulated instructions about Molotov cocktails and looting. The Guardia Civil says it believes the alleged promoter was linked both to the 24 October disturbances in Barcelona and to online mobilisation for similar incidents in Valencia. elDiario.es also reports that prosecutors ordered the precautionary placement of a 17-year-old, identified as the creator of Blocus Vlc communication channels, in a specialist centre. El Mundo separately reported arrests and protective measures for shops in major cities.
That makes the call more serious than an unwelcome gathering. If the authorities’ allegations are substantiated, they describe signs of planning or promoting specific violence. Waiting for damage before intervening would be difficult to defend.
Yet police firmness cannot replace proof. The allegations come from investigators, police and prosecutors; the available material contains no response from those detained, their lawyers or Blocus. Nor does it establish that the predicted disorder would have occurred, or assign individual criminal responsibility. Treating arrests as conclusive evidence of a violent network would blur the essential line between prevention and conviction.
The immediate question is what specific conduct prosecutors and courts will attribute to each detainee, and whether the evidence separates online messages, organisation, incitement and verifiable violent acts.
Sources
- elDiario.es · Source date: 2026-10-31
- El Mundo · Source date: 2026-10-31
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-10-31