Police arrest 3 men for planting homemade explosives in Barcelona shops and banks

Catalan police have arrested three men and are investigating a woman for having planted seven homemade explosive devices in financial institutions and shops in the Eixample and Sant Martí areas of Barcelona. The men are between the ages of 24 and 45.

The Mossos d'Esquadra say the suspects are being investigated for various crimes committed between July 2022 and June 2023. The charges include vandalism, property damage, possession of weapons and explosives, and threat to public health.

One person is believed to have created all seven explosive devices, which police say were homemade. 

Although responsibility for the attacks was not claimed by any organization, police believe the perpetrators could have an ideological background of violent anarchism.

The attacks did not cause any casualties, but material damage amounted to €80,000. 

Each attack involved increasingly explosive material, police say, and could have caused serious injuries if they had occurred near people. 

The three men arrested were brought to court on October 6. The investigation remains ongoing.