In a peculiar and violent incident at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, a group of men employed as suitcase wrappers found themselves entangled in a brawl, utilizing their plastic rolls as improvised weapons.
Following the occurrence at Terminal 1 on December 9 at around 6 PM, the aftermath saw four individuals detained by Barcelona’s police force.
One of the participants, sustaining head injuries, was promptly taken to the hospital. This bizarre event, caught on social media, revealed a confrontation among these unofficial bag-wrappers, marked by insults escalating into physical violence with plastic wrap rolls serving as unconventional weaponry.
Footage shared online vividly depicted the initial exchange of verbal hostilities among the men, followed by a violent outbreak. One individual wielded a roll of plastic wrap to strike another before losing control, subsequently chasing after a different participant through the mostly vacant corridors of the terminal.
Clashes between cultural enrichers who illegally transport suitcases to Barcelona airport. pic.twitter.com/FsFv2V5nVk
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) December 10, 2023
Strikingly, multiple individuals, including a woman, were observed brandishing rolls of plastic wrap as makeshift weapons during the altercation.
Notably, the absence of an official suitcase wrapping service at Barcelona’s airport leaves this niche industry unregulated and independently operated.
These unofficial bag-wrappers offer plastic wrapping services to tourists, intending to shield luggage from weather conditions and potential theft. However, the incident has drawn attention to the need for oversight.
According to reports, Aena, the airport management company, is planning to introduce an official luggage-protection service at the Barcelona Airport by the end of the year. This initiative aims to bring regulation and order to this service, minimizing the likelihood of such disruptive and violent incidents in the future.