Mossos d'Esquadra seized 843 firearms and 5,138 bladed weapons across Catalonia in 2025, marking a substantial increase amid a rise in violent incidents. This surge in weapon confiscations, detailed in a Catalan government response to the Popular Party, highlights growing concerns over organised crime and public safety.
The 843 firearms seized represent a daily average of 2.3 weapons and a nearly 9 percent increase compared to 2024. Of these, 501 were long firearms, with the remainder being short firearms. The Catalan police force also intervened in 5,138 bladed weapons over the last twelve months, averaging more than 14 per day. This figure is almost 37 percent higher than the bladed weapons confiscated in 2024.
Alberto Vilagrasa, the Popular Party spokesperson in the Interior Commission, stated that the increase in seizures shows a "real danger" for citizens. He explained that this confirms the "implantation of organised crime" in the community, particularly linked to marijuana trafficking. Vilagrasa also stressed the critical role of the National Police and Guardia Civil in combating organised crime.
Recent Violent Incidents
The rise in weapon seizures coincides with a series of violent incidents, including multiple shootings and stabbings. On 14 April, an individual from Montenegro, a member of the Balkan Skaljari clan, was shot in Diagonal Mar, a coastal neighbourhood in Barcelona. He later died in hospital. This incident occurred in broad daylight while the victim sat on a bar terrace. Two weeks later, a man received a gunshot wound in Lloret de Mar, Girona, in a case Mossos d'Esquadra link to another possible revenge killing between rival Balkan clans.
A man died on a Friday in Carrer Mineria, near Passeig de la Zona Franca in Barcelona, after a projectile hit him. Hours later, another firearm incident took place in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, part of the Barcelona metropolitan area. Towards the end of April, an individual received serious injuries from multiple gunshots in the Sants neighbourhood of Barcelona. In total, at least five shootings, resulting in two deaths, occurred within a single month. Police forces have warned for years about the increasing possession of firearms, especially those connected to drug trafficking.
Stabbings and Public Safety Concerns
The community also registered three fatal stabbings in just over 48 hours at the beginning of May. In Esplugues de Llobregat, a 41-year-old Asian woman died after a Moroccan individual killed her with a bladed weapon. Shortly after, Mossos arrested a minor for fatally stabbing a man in Barcelona's Raval district. The following day, 5 May, a 31-year-old woman surrendered to police after murdering her partner, also with a bladed weapon.
These incidents reflect a deepening "knife culture," a concern first raised by Barcelona Security Councillor Albert Batlle in 2022. The high number of confiscations by the Catalan police force demonstrates this trend. On 13 May, a traffic patrol located a dozen submachine guns, similar to AK-47s with 5.45mm calibre, in the boot of a Porsche Cayenne on the AP-7 motorway. The driver fled in another vehicle, abandoning the luxury car and the weapons.
Political Reactions and Future Efforts
Political parties, including Junts, the Popular Party, and Vox, criticised the Catalan government for the increase in insecurity following the early May stabbings. They called for more Mossos d'Esquadra officers on public streets, a demand also supported by the Republican party. Vilagrasa emphasised the need for firmness in police action.
Vilagrasa also highlighted the "indispensable" role of the National Police and Guardia Civil in fighting organised crime. He pointed to their important work at borders, combating drug and weapon trafficking. He urged these forces to continue exercising their powers in Catalonia with increased resources, coordinating with Mossos d'Esquadra and local police forces. This coordinated approach aims to address the persistent threat of organised crime and enhance public safety across the region.
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Originally published by ABC Cataluña. Read original article.
