Barcelona police arrested 13 people in a joint operation aimed at finding firearms after a rise in gun incidents in the city. The operation, carried out since yesterday afternoon, involved the Mossos d'Esquadra, Guàrdia Urbana and the Spanish National Police.
No firearms were recovered during the search. Officers carried out a large saturation deployment across several parts of Barcelona, including Sants-Montjuïc, with a focus on Zona Franca, as well as Sant Andreu, Nou Barris and Sant Martí. Checks were also made in upper Barcelona.
The main aim was to increase police presence on streets and public transport, and to reduce the sense of insecurity among residents. According to Mossos data, eight people died from firearms in Barcelona in 2025, and six deaths have already been recorded at the start of 2026.
Of the 13 arrests, one person was caught stealing from a vehicle. Three were arrested for theft, two for theft and fraud, two had outstanding arrest warrants, five were detained for immigration offences, and one person is under investigation for breaching a sentence. Police also issued 15 administrative complaints, including five for possession of weapons and eight for drugs.
Officers additionally seized three electric scooters and carried out an administrative entry into one establishment. The Spanish National Police identified 206 people under immigration law, with 486 prior records between them, and arrested three people for irregular stay in Spain. For more Catalonia-wide reporting, see News.
