Huge turnout as more than 160,000 attend refugee solidarity march in Barcelona

MORE THAN 160,000 people have taken to the streets of Barcelona to demand that Spain takes in more refugees from war torn countries like Syria.

Marchers held banners and signs in Catalan with slogans saying ‘Enough excuses! Take them in now!’ and ‘No more deaths, open the borders!’

In 2015 the Spanish government pledged to take in more than 17,000 refugees within two years, comprising just under 16,000 from camps in Italy and Greece plus 1,500 from Turkey and Libya.

Since the declaration, however, Spain has admitted just 1,100 refugees.

Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, who joined the march, said in a statement: “It is very important that in an uncertain Europe where xenophobia is on the rise for Barcelona to be a capital of hope.”