Spain's General Strike: 11 Arrests Recorded by 08:00, with Total Rising to 40 by Mid-Morning

November 11, 2026

Spain's nationwide general strike on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, began with 11 arrests recorded by the Ministry of the Interior by 08:00, following incidents involving burning rubbish containers, graffiti and an alleged assault on an authority officer.

The initial figures were published by Europa Press using information from the Ministry of the Interior. As the morning progressed, the reported number of arrests increased. A later combined tally from Europa Press, using information from national and regional police forces, put the total at 40 arrests and 476 incidents by mid-morning.

The strike was called by trade unions demanding improvements in access to housing, higher wages and the protection of public services.

Eleven Arrests Recorded in Five Provinces by 08:00

According to the Ministry of the Interior's initial report, four people were arrested in Málaga in connection with the burning of rubbish containers and graffiti.

A further four arrests were recorded in Almería. In La Rioja, one person was arrested over an alleged offence of assaulting an authority officer.

The remaining arrests were recorded in Alicante and Valencia, with one person detained in each province.

This brought the initial national tally to 11 arrests by 08:00 on Wednesday morning.

Arrests and Incidents Reported in Different Parts of Spain

The early incidents formed part of a wider pattern of disruption linked to strike pickets and demonstrations in several parts of the country.

The Ministry of the Interior had instructed the National Police and Guardia Civil to organise security deployments to protect the right to strike while preventing violent pickets and barricades.

The instructions also focused on protecting critical infrastructure, industrial areas, central supply markets and small commercial establishments, while maintaining access for workers who wished to continue working.

Arrest Total Rises to 40 by Mid-Morning

A later update published by Europa Press reported a combined total of 40 arrests by mid-morning, alongside 476 incidents connected with the general strike.

Of the 40 arrests, 26 were recorded by the National Police and Guardia Civil, 13 by the Basque regional police, the Ertzaintza, and one by the Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra.

The Interior Ministry's figures covered 476 incidents recorded by the National Police and Guardia Civil between 22:00 on Tuesday 10 November and 11:00 on Wednesday 11 November.

The 26 arrests by these two national forces were distributed across several locations. Eight took place in Madrid and 11 in Andalucía, including four in Málaga, four in Almería and three in Granada. Two arrests were recorded in Zamora, with one each in Navarra, Valladolid, La Rioja, Alicante and Valencia.

The 13 arrests reported by the Ertzaintza took place in the Basque Country, while the Mossos d'Esquadra reported one arrest in Barcelona.

Incidents Include Burning Containers and Alleged Assaults on Police

Among the incidents reported during the early stages of the strike were the burning of rubbish containers and graffiti in Málaga, as well as an alleged assault on an authority officer in La Rioja.

Elsewhere, police deployments were increased around transport infrastructure, commercial areas and other locations where pickets had gathered.

The morning also saw complaints from unions about police conduct during separate incidents, including allegations concerning the use of pepper spray at Mercamadrid and events at Granada's Metro. These complaints were reported separately from the arrests and incident figures.

A Developing Picture of the 11 November Strike

The initial figure of 11 arrests reflected the situation recorded by the Ministry of the Interior by 08:00. By mid-morning, a broader count incorporating regional police information had increased the reported total to 40.

The figures illustrate how the situation developed during the first hours of the nationwide strike. They also underline the importance of distinguishing between the Ministry of the Interior's own statistics and combined totals that include regional police forces.

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