Court orders no-bail custody for alleged founder of Blocus Spain, a 20-year-old arrested in Picanya

Arrest and alleged role

The Guardia Civil arrested a 20-year-old in Picanya, Valencia, on Friday, 30 October. Investigators tie him to calls spread on social media that, behind the appearance of student protests, aimed at looting shops and carrying out violent acts. He is described as the alleged founder and main promoter of the Blocus movement in Spain. He is accused of creating and running Telegram groups through which those actions were coordinated.

Court order

The duty judge at the Torrent court in Valencia, who holds the second post in the Instruction Section, ordered him held in provisional custody without bail. The Valencian high court (TSJCV) said on social media that the custody order is of the communicated type, with one exception. The suspect may not use computers or any other device in the prison that would let him access social networks of any kind. He is under investigation in a case opened for criminal organisation aimed at inciting public disorder, robbery with force in shops and damage, and the legal classification may still change as the inquiry advances.

Wider case

Police and the Guardia Civil have detained three people in recent days over calls for riots, looting and pillage planned for Saturday in Valencia. Besides this young man, the detainees include others whom El PAIS reported were teaching people how to make Molotov cocktails. El Mundo reported that a second detainee linked to the same events has been placed at the disposal of the Catarroja court, and that no judicial decision on that person's situation had been communicated yet. ABC reported that the suspect had presented himself as the leader, including in a video in which a hooded figure proclaimed himself leader, posted on the profiles that urged the attacks.