Tenerife Businesses Board Up Storefronts Amid Online Riot Threats
Business owners in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are boarding up storefronts as local authorities increase security following anonymous social media threats of riots and looting on Halloween.
Business owners on Calle del Castillo in Santa Cruz de Tenerife have begun boarding up their storefronts ahead of Halloween night. According to the newspaper El Día, merchants are taking these precautions due to online threats calling for riots on October 31st.
These anonymous messages, linked to a platform called "Blocus," have specifically targeted the capital’s main shopping street and the "Golden Mile" in Playa de Las Américas. The posts encourage looting and vandalism, prompting local authorities to activate emergency security protocols.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez confirmed that a joint surveillance operation between the Local and National Police is now in place. While the mayor hopes the threats are baseless, he stressed that security forces are prepared for any situation. Additionally, Cabildo President Rosa Dávila has asked the Government Delegation to step up preventative measures, noting the heightened sensitivity following recent violent unrest in cities like Barcelona and Bilbao.
Despite the widespread concern, authorities remain cautious. So far, they have been unable to identify the source of the messages or confirm if the threats are credible. The situation highlights the growing anxiety among officials regarding how viral social media content can threaten public safety and disrupt local businesses.