Inditex, Mango trade body calls for measures to prevent Barcelona unrest

Madrid – Following the riots that devastated the centre of Barcelona this past weekend, the Asociación Retail Textil España (Arte), the trade association for major fashion and footwear chains operating in Spain, has publicly expressed its support for all retailers affected by this episode of violence. The organisation has voiced this defence while calling for measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.

The business organisation issued a brief official statement this past Sunday. This came just a few hours after Barcelona experienced a new chapter in the episodes of violence sweeping the streets of major European cities in recent weeks. In the statement, Arte publicly expressed its support and solidarity with all the stores and retailers affected by the riots that took place in the city on the evening of Saturday, October 24. The disturbances devastated the area surrounding the central Plaça de Catalunya. In response, Arte has demanded that public administrations take the necessary measures to prevent a recurrence. The organisation emphasised that no protest can be justified through violence and highlighted the inclusive role that retail plays as a driver of urban life.

“At Arte, we express our strongest condemnation of the episodes of violence, destruction and looting that occurred in Barcelona, and we extend our support to the affected businesses and their teams, as well as to the citizens who were exposed to these incidents,” the fashion retail trade association stated. “We thank the security forces and emergency services for their work, and we ask public administrations to strengthen coordination and the necessary measures to prevent new episodes and guarantee a safe environment.” The business organisation also emphasised that “behind every store there are people, jobs and a daily effort to contribute to the activity and life of our cities”. Based on this conviction, the association noted that “the safety of those who work and shop in our establishments must be a priority”, adding that “no demand can justify violence or attacks against the retail sector”. The sector, it concluded, “brings life to our streets and neighbourhoods”, meaning that “protecting it means caring for people and preserving social harmony”.

With 128 arrests and 23 vandalised stores

The demand and statement from the trade association representing Inditex, Mango, Tendam and H&M came as Barcelona City Council released preliminary data on the urban impact of Saturday evening's riots. In response to the disturbances, the council stated that an “extraordinary” security operation was deployed. This involved mobilising 295 officers from the Mossos d’Esquadra regional police and 229 officers from the Guàrdia Urbana local police. The aim was to guarantee public safety and maintain order around Plaça de Catalunya after authorities became aware of demonstrations called at that location via social media.

To that end, the joint police operation began around 4pm CEST. Two hours later, at around 6pm CEST, officers began trying to contain various groups of hooded individuals who were throwing objects at the police, burning rubbish bins and looting and vandalising stores in the city centre. The disturbances continued until approximately 10pm CEST. They resulted in the arrest of 128 people, comprising 122 men and six women. Of those arrested, 72 (56 percent) were minors and only two had prior records for public disorder. Furthermore, 14 police officers were injured, four of them seriously. The main figures from the riots also included 68 seizures of bladed weapons, stones, balaclavas and sprays; the replacement of 106 rubbish bins that had been preventively removed from the Plaça de Catalunya area, alongside 31 bins that were burned during the riots; and 23 stores that were vandalised during the disturbances. Following this episode of violence, Barcelona City Council has already announced that it will take legal action against all adult detainees and against the legal guardians of the 72 arrested minors.

“We will not allow the city of Barcelona to be vandalised or people who walk freely through the streets of our city to be intimidated,” declared Jaume Collboni, mayor of Barcelona. “We will pursue the culprits and perpetrators of these acts,” he added, noting that the city council will join the legal proceedings opened against all detainees to defend the vandalised public property. “There will be consequences for the adults responsible for the damage, and also for the legal guardians of the minors who took part,” stated Collboni, who also expressed his solidarity with all the affected retailers. He noted that he has “had the opportunity to speak with some representatives” of the businesses that “have directly suffered the damage or are located in the area where these incidents took place to convey the city council's support” following the episode of violence. Putting the incident into context, he concluded: “We are aware that this was not an ordinary demonstration in defence of a cause or a right; it was the result of movements currently sweeping across Europe.”