Barcelona, Catalonia – January 6, 2026 – More than a year after the launch of ‘Plan Daga’ (Operation Dagger), a concerted effort by the Mossos d’Esquadra and other police forces to remove bladed weapons from public spaces in Catalonia, the so-called ‘knife culture’ continues to persist. Barcelona, particularly in its nightlife areas and during weekends, has been identified as the epicenter of this ongoing issue.
Alarming Statistics from 2025
Partial data for 2025 indicates that the figures for weapon seizures will remain on par with those of 2024. In the first half of 2025, a total of 4,715 weapons were confiscated in police controls across Catalonia, translating to an average of 25 weapons per day. This follows a figure of 9,220 seizures for the entirety of 2024. Concurrently, between January and June 2025, there were 2,319 incidents involving bladed weapons, compared to 3,762 incidents reported throughout 2024.
Increased Police Presence, Continued Problem
Despite these alarming numbers, the Mossos d’Esquadra have significantly increased their efforts. In the first semester of 2025, 85,385 hours were dedicated to prevention and control tasks, a substantial increase from the 42,148 hours in the same period of 2024. For the whole of 2024, 127,992 hours were allocated to prevent the carrying of bladed weapons, particularly in streets, nightlife venues, and public transport. These operations resulted in 9,220 administrative complaints for possession and/or use of bladed weapons, with approximately a thousand leading to fines that could reach up to 6,000 euros.
The most commonly seized weapons include:
- Knives: 6,827 in 2024; 3,401 in H1 2025
- Kitchen knives: 1,892 in 2024; 1,036 in H1 2025
- Machetes: 218 in 2024; 98 in H1 2025
- Daggers (11 cm, double-edged): 73 in 2024; 47 in H1 2025
- Swords or katanas: 57 in 2024; 34 in H1 2025
- Daggers (general): 30 in 2024; 13 in H1 2025
- Axes: 15 in 2024; 12 in H1 2025
Police have also reported the detection of simulated bladed weapons disguised as other objects, such as sword-canes or ninja stars.
Barcelona: The Epicenter
After 15 months of intensified public actions, the General Directorate of Police of the Department of Interior confirms that the problem is primarily concentrated in Barcelona. Data supports this, with the Urban Guard in Barcelona confiscating 1,232 bladed weapons in the first nine months of 2025, a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Sources from the municipal police force noted, “The more you look, the more you find.”
Weekends, Leisure, and Public Transport Hotspots
Despite the rise in seizures, crime rates for injuries remain similar to previous years. This prompts police to conduct more random controls, prioritizing areas with high concentrations of people. Incidents involving bladed weapons predominantly occur on Saturdays and Sundays, particularly during the evening and night hours. Commercial establishments, nightlife zones, and public transport, all characterized by high public traffic, are the most common settings for these incidents.
Cultural Factors and Future Strategies
Authorities attribute the carrying of knives to a cultural element. During the presentation of the reinforced ‘Plan Daga,’ Interior Minister Núria Parlon highlighted that “there are different social and cultural patterns that lead many people to believe they can carry a bladed weapon without consequences. This results in a proliferation of bladed weapons in certain environments, often involving substance consumption, which can lead to assaults.”
Catalonia’s police leadership aims to “prevent the normalization of weapon possession in public spaces” through a “comprehensive response that combines police action, community prevention, social intervention, and institutional coordination.” They emphasize that this issue “threatens public safety both through its direct incidence and its operational, social, and territorial implications.” The General Directorate of Police pledges to continue implementing controls and developing plans to eradicate these practices.
Source: [elperiodico.com](https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20260106/cultura-navaja-cataluna-persiste-epicentro-barcelona-plan-daga-armas-blancas-124951768)
