Five arrested during fake 'therian' gathering at Arc de Triomf

Thousands of teenagers gathered in Barcelona following a viral hoax that ended in police intervention.

Generic image of a crowd of young people gathered in front of an urban monument with mobile phones.
IA

Generic image of a crowd of young people gathered in front of an urban monument with mobile phones.

The Guàrdia Urbana and Mossos d'Esquadra arrested five people this Saturday, February 21st, in Barcelona following a massive gathering of teenagers sparked by a social media hoax.

The Lluís Companys promenade was packed with thousands of youths, mostly aged 12 to 18, responding to a viral call to see therians—individuals who identify as animals. The meeting proved to be a hoax, causing frustration and tension among those hoping to record content for TikTok.
The afternoon was characterized by stampedes and shoving as crowds tried to spot the alleged therians, finding only people in costumes or agitators. The event was also used by political groups to spread messages, with some attendees carrying Spanish flags and shouting slogans against the Government.
Around 8:30 PM, police moved in to clear the Arc de Triomf area. The operation led to clashes and objects being thrown at officers, resulting in five arrests. Similar incidents were reported this weekend in cities such as Valladolid, Bilbao, and A Coruña.