Barcelona in Flames

WATCH: Pro-Palestinian Mobs Vandalize McDonald's and Starbucks in Barcelona Clashes

Violent clashes erupted in Barcelona as pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized international chain stores and confronted police, leading to multiple arrests during mass demonstrations.

Lara Sukster Mosheyof

OCT 16, 2025 13:26

2 min read

Riots in Barcelona change into vandalism and violence

Violent clashes broke out between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police forces in Barcelona on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, as a large-scale march led to vandalism and street disturbances.

The demonstration, which organizers claimed drew 50,000 people but police estimated at approximately 15,000, turned chaotic near the Israeli consulate and along central thoroughfares. Protesters targeted and attacked businesses perceived to support Israel, including McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Burger King, smashing windows and vandalizing storefronts.

Local reports indicate that at least 15 arrests were made by the Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, after groups of protesters set fire to garbage bins, blocked main roads, and clashed with riot police. Officers deployed pepper spray and batons to disperse the crowds

The action was part of a broader general strike in support of Palestine and took place despite a US-brokered ceasefire taking effect in Gaza days earlier. Protesters held signs that dismissed the truce as a "farce," maintaining their focus on the alleged "genocide" in the region.

The unrest also impacted the sports world, as demonstrators attempted to confront the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, forcing the Israeli team to change hotels and play a Eurobasket fixture in a nearby city behind closed doors for security reasons. The events in Barcelona mark one of the most significant and violent displays of anti-Israel sentiment in Spain since the start of the conflict.