BarcelonaThe Jewish Community of Barcelona (CJB) has denounced a vandal attack against several graves in the Hebrew compound of the Corts cemetery in the capital. In a statement, the organization explained that all the Jewish spaces in the city’s cemeteries – Les Corts, Collserola and Sant Andreu – will remain closed until Monday 26 January 2026, following the recommendation of Barcelona Cemeteries, to avoid new desecrations, gather information and “assess the situation accurately, adopt the appropriate decisions and file the corresponding complaints”.
The events would have taken place this Saturday afternoon. In the images published by the CJB you can see a set of vandalized graves. The disorder is general: marble tombstones are broken, displaced or knocked over other graves or on the floor. In some cases, they are cracked and in others fractured into several pieces, making it clear to the community that there has been a deliberate act of destruction.
The Barcelona City Council has this Sunday “resoundingly” condemned the act of vandalism against several graves. They are “intolerable facts that attack the dignity of the deceased, the respect due to mourning spaces and coexistence in the city,” the municipal government says in a statement. The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has assured that they are working to identify those responsible for this attack. “Hate has no place in a pluralistic and respectful Barcelona. All our support for the Jewish Community of the city”, he said on his social networks.
Israel demands “immediate” action
The closure of Jewish spaces in cemeteries this weekend has outraged the leader of the PP in Barcelona, Daniel Sirera, who has asked the municipal government to “immediately reopen” and with “permanent vigilance”, whether with vigilantes, civic agents or with security cameras. “Closing does not protect dignity. Dignity is protected by guaranteeing security and institutional presence,” he defended.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the vandalism in a message to X and said that “this despicable act” is “the result of the government’s anti-Israel campaign [de Pedro] Sánchez”. Also through the account of its Embassy in Spain, the Israeli government has demanded that the authorities take “immediate” measures to resolve the situation.
The municipal government assures that, from the first moment, Cementiris de Barcelona has activated the corresponding internal protocols, that the technical teams have assessed the area and the damage – which affects decorative elements of several graves – and the necessary actions have been initiated for their repair and restitution “with the utmost speed and respect”.
The Jewish Community of Barcelona has also explained that it is working together with the authorities to “define the appropriate measures” to repair the damage as quickly as possible “in accordance with tradition and halachah [la llei jueva]At the same time, the statement continues, Cementiris de Barcelona is collaborating with the authorities to facilitate the investigation with the compilation and review of available information and existing security elements.
Possible denunciation of Odi
The municipal government also explains that it is already working in coordination with the CJB and the Rabbinate to agree on the necessary restoration and recovery measures for the space. “If appropriate, the council will consider filing a complaint for these acts of vandalism, together with the Jewish Community, before the Hate Crimes and Discrimination Unit of the Public Prosecutor’s Office,” informs the City Council.
The Jewish Community of Barcelona and the Barcelona City Council have provided a joint cemetery service to Jewish citizens since 1976. Last year, Barcelona Cemeteries carried out a comprehensive operation in the Jewish precincts, which included the construction of 56 new graves, as well as urbanization work and improved access. 700,000 euros were invested.
