The National Police detained 29 young people, including 22 minors, in a coordinated operation carried out between August and October against violent youth gangs. The crackdown formed part of ongoing efforts to curb street violence and to disrupt networks that recruit, organize, and arm young people for clashes. Investigators explain that the subjects were tied to organized groups with a pattern of quick escalations in confrontations, and the operation relied on a mix of intelligence, surveillance, and seizures that aimed to disrupt weapon flows and violent encounters across the Madrid region.
Most of the incidents unfolded as clashes in several locations within the Community of Madrid, leaving multiple victims in need of medical care for injuries sustained during the fights. In numerous cases, hospital treatment was required and some injuries were described as severe or life threatening. The police stress that the violence was not clustered in a single neighborhood but spread across different districts, affecting residents and highlighting the danger of gang rivalry in urban settings.
Trinitarios and the Dominican Don’t Play
Among those detained, fourteen were confirmed members of the various gangs under investigation, while the remainder had connections and ties of varying strength to these groups. Five firearms and bladed weapons were seized, with four machetes standing out for their size and potential impact in street confrontations. This level of weaponry underscores the risk surrounding these groups and their willingness to carry arms during clashes. The operation and its findings are reported by the police as part of a broader effort to restore safety in the affected areas.
Since August, the Provincial Information Brigade conducted extensive inquiries that culminated in the arrest of significant figures within Latin street gangs. All those detained were linked to the Trinitarios and to the Dominican Don’t Play gang, illustrating the cross‑border networks that feed violence in the capital region. The case drew on ongoing investigative work and demonstrated the importance of coordinated police action across different units to dismantle networks and prevent further violence.
In parallel, local police stations working with several units arrested a further fifteen individuals connected to various incidents. The arrests were accompanied by injuries in several cases, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by these groups and the need for proportionate public safety responses across districts.
Serious assaults
The police draw attention to a June 17 clash in the Ciudad Lineal district during which a prominent member of the Trinitarios sustained grave injuries from a blade carried by an attacker who had hidden the weapon in a shoe. Following a thorough investigation, a man was detained on September 25 on charges of attempted homicide. This case illustrates the gravity of violence linked to these groups and the decisive steps taken by authorities to pursue accountability.
Another notable incident occurred on August 4 when a group of youths attacked a young man at night with bladed weapons, catching him by surprise and leaving him with serious injuries. The victim sustained multiple cuts across the body and a partial amputation of the left arm, highlighting the brutal nature of the attacks and the lasting harm inflicted on individuals and their families.
Lastly, on September 18, four masked attackers opened fire on a group in the Carabanchel district. Four members linked to the Dominican Don’t Play gang were wounded by gunfire and a fifth suffered injuries from a blade, with wounds to an arm and the back. The incident further illustrates the range of violence associated with these groups and the ongoing police efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.