Ten arrested on suspicion of being members of gang that forced trains to sudden halt so they could paint over carriages

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Spanish police have said they had smashed a guerrilla-style graffiti gang that forced trains to a sudden halt to paint over carriages.

Ten people, aged between 21 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of belonging to the gang, which is accused of causing over €600,000-worth (£468,000) of damage to train carriages.

The suspects, said to have daubed 168 carriages, were charged with 110 offences of public disorder and damage to property.

The group would stop trains by pulling security levers and paint up to 50 sq metres (538 sq ft) of carriage in just a few minutes, a police statement said.

“This action produces a sudden and violent braking of the train, generating the risk of falls and injuries to public transport users, and it disrupts the normal circulation of trains, causing delays and service cuts,” the statement said.

“Three years of investigation have allowed us to dismantle this graffiti gang, one of the most active in the entire country.”

Police estimate the gang caused €601,625-worth of damage to trains across the country.

The group filmed their activities and posted the videos on social media sites.

Police said the suspects began operating as solo graffiti artists but later joined forces to form the gang.