Police in València arrest 17-year-old accused of inciting Halloween looting

The arrest

Police arrested a 17-year-old in València on Wednesday, 28 October. The minor is accused of creating groups on messaging apps and using them to call for looting of shops and acts of pillage on Saturday, 31 October, the night of Halloween. Levante-EMV first reported the case, and sources close to the investigation confirmed to EFE that the messages were sent through TikTok, WhatsApp and Telegram. Police sources told ABC that the teen created groups on two messaging apps. Levante-EMV also reports that he has a record for property offences.

Charges and the Blocus link

The minor is accused of conspiracy to cause public disorder, conspiracy to commit property crimes and membership of an organised group. Levante-EMV reports that he is allegedly linked to Blocus, a group calling for disturbances on 31 October. According to sources cited by EFE, his messages urged looting, the destruction of street furniture and confrontations with police. He will be handed over to the juvenile prosecutor on Thursday, 29 October.

Security plan and the Toledo suspension

The Government Delegation in València had announced a special surveillance and control device on Tuesday, 27 October. That plan was linked to an event by Vito Quiles scheduled for Wednesday, 28 October, outside the Faculty of Law of the Universitat de València. The event was suspended after a railway accident in Toledo. Blocus has also called for public disorder and looting in the city centre on the afternoon of Saturday, 31 October.