Protest in Barcelona against provocative Spanish police demonstration

At least six people have been arrested and 14 others have been injured in Barcelona after Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, used force against pro-independence protesters on Saturday. Officers hit protesters with batons at least at three different locations, including central Via Laitena, Plaça Catalunya and Ronda Sant Pere.

The Catalan police was trying to keep pro-independence groups away from a small Spanish police demonstration that was honoring agents that took part in last year’s crackdown of the independence referendum.

Far-right groups

“The same people that on October 1 defended the polling stations and today were protesting against fascism, have been victims of the same violence, this time exercised by the Mossos” said CUP leader in Parliament, Carles Riera.

Riera criticized the Catalan government for having allowed a “fascist demonstration” in the streets of Barcelona, in reference to the Spanish police union march. The demonstration was called by Justapol, a Spanish police union, but far-right groups such as VOX also took part.