Police have launched a city-wide manhunt after a hooded man carried out a third armed robbery in less than 24 hours. He struck a business in broad daylight in Barcelona’s Les Corts district on Thursday morning. The suspect wore the same distinctive blue hooded sweatshirt and cap in all three attacks, and Catalan police are now focusing a major investigation on him.
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The Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police force for Catalonia, confirmed the latest incident occurred at 11:33 AM on Thursday, 5th March. The robber targeted a Coaliment supermarket on Carrer del Cardenal Reig. Fortunately, no one was injured during the robbery.
A Spree Across the City
This daylight raid follows two similar incidents that occurred on Wednesday night across different parts of the city. The first robbery happened at approximately 10:20 PM on Carrer de Mallorca in the Sant Martí district. Just a few hours later, past midnight, authorities believe the same individual struck again, this time on Carrer de Padilla in the Horta area.
The consistent description of the perpetrator and his modus operandi have led investigators to conclude that the same man is responsible for all three crimes. In each case, he was armed with a pistol and demanded cash from shop employees.
The Investigation
Both the Mossos d’Esquadra and Barcelona’s municipal police, the Guardia Urbana, have actively combed the affected districts since Wednesday night, striving to locate the suspect who has so far evaded capture. Metrópoli Abierta first broke the story, reporting that authorities are treating the incidents with urgency. However, they have not yet determined if the weapon used is a real firearm or a replica.
These robberies occur as law enforcement agencies in Barcelona continue to tackle various forms of crime across the city. The Horta incident is particularly notable, following a recent operation where Mossos seized weapons from youths at the local Metro station, highlighting ongoing public safety concerns. These efforts form part of a broader police strategy to maintain security, which has also seen recent successes, such as dismantling a gang that targeted elderly residents across Catalonia.
Police are continuing their search and are reportedly reviewing CCTV footage from the targeted shops and surrounding areas. As the investigation continues, authorities have not released further details about the suspect or the amounts stolen.
