In a moment of overwhelm, a neighbor began recording as a heated argument escalated into something more troubling. The footage, far from what is seen in the video, captured a scene on the Plaza de Pou de la Figuera in the old town area near Barcelona. The clip shows a young man in black sweatpants and a hooded jacket drawing close to a group that is sharply at odds, and moments later three gunshots ring out. The suspect flees with a weapon in hand, spreading panic as the crowd scatters. One onlooker gives chase briefly and berates the shooter in Arabic before disappearing around the corner toward Carders street. The time is just before three in the early hours, and within five minutes, Mossos d’Esquadra and emergency crews from the SEM are on the scene.
A square with a background
The confrontation and subsequent recording took place on Pou de la Figuera street, in front of a Chinese market and a sardana-focused house. The second location was closed that Saturday, while the first remained open. An employee recalls seeing men of Moroccan origin hurry past the storefront just before the explosions, followed by gunfire and cries. The previous discussion that had been taking place inside the nearby restaurants on the opposite side of the square went unnoticed until the gunshots started. A waiter, who has witnessed similar events, notes that police arrived after the chaos began.
Historical context threads through the scene. In September 2017 an Algerian youth died in a fight that left two others injured, an incident that heightened tensions around the square. In December 2019 another clash in the same area ended with a fatal stabbing and the assailant’s subsequent arrest. These past incidents color the present atmosphere, making the square a place of uneasy coexistence rather than simple daily life.
“I don’t want my children near”
A woman wearing a headscarf describes Pou de la Figuera as a current flashpoint where troubled youths congregate on chairs and benches under the trees, making the area feel tense and unpredictable. She explains that she avoids bringing her children near the spot because of fear, even though she shares a cultural background with some of the youths. The local Arab-origin community, which includes a mosque and a bakery in the square, expresses a similar concern. They worry that the behavior of a few is undermining efforts by the broader community to maintain a peaceful, normal life.
The video author notes that the square is not entirely on fire, clarifying the precise location where the young man fled, toward what is called the Forat de la Vergonya, a name that recalls the neighborhood’s past. The Pou de la Figuera area, with its casals and civil-guard tasks, is described as a place where city plans and shared books near the square are part of daily life. Yet the author also concedes that youth problems from time to time create friction in the area.
Robbery wave
According to EL PERIÓDICO, the shooting follows a stretch of night-time thefts reported by several merchants in the Mercat de Santa Caterina vicinity. Vincent, owner of the Circus of Papallona, explains that he spoke with the Ciutat Vella mayor and noted that the joint presence of Mossos d’Esquadra and the City Council had intensified and addressed roughly fifteen robberies recorded last month, labeling the effort a priority. He shows photographs of a recent robbery attempt that shattered glass at the Via entrance and acknowledges that while police presence has increased, the issue has not been fully resolved. A local restaurant owner, Marguta, recalls the heightened tension and states that despite more officers on duty, the community still feels vulnerable. Police sources consulted by the newspaper indicate that drug users operating mainly in the neighborhood are behind the robberies, and an ongoing investigation aims to eliminate those involved. While there is no established link between Friday’s shooting and the reported robberies, the incident adds to a climate of insecurity that deeply unsettles residents and business owners alike.