By Joe Gerrard • Published: 07 Dec 2018 • 16:39
POLICE were despatched to the streets of towns in Cataluña yesterday (Thursday) after clashes broke out between regional independence supporters and marchers rallying for Spanish unity on Constitution Day. Mossos d’Esquadra officers wearing riot gear and wielding truncheons charged against demonstrators who were attempting to block a pro-Spanish unity and Constitution rally.
Once again police hit Catalan demonstrators: 19 wounded and one detained in Girona city https://t.co/PP5mnG3Su3 pic.twitter.com/LPBJTtOXXH — Help Catalonia 🎗 (@CataloniaHelp1) December 6, 2018
Once again police hit Catalan demonstrators: 19 wounded and one detained in Girona city https://t.co/PP5mnG3Su3 pic.twitter.com/LPBJTtOXXH
— Help Catalonia 🎗 (@CataloniaHelp1) December 6, 2018
Similar scenes played out in Terrassa where a local politician from the leftist pro-Catalan independence Candidatura d’Unitat Popular (CUP) was left wounded. Members of the Catalan divisions of national political parties including the conservative Partido Popular, the centrist Ciudadanos and the far right Vox marched through Barcelona in a pro-Spanish union demonstration. Some 2,000 people took part, according to Guardia Urbana estimates.
19 people wounded tonight in Terrassa, Catalonia, in a rally against Spanish Fascist party Vox attacked by the police with extreme brutality. One of the wounded is a CUP (Candidacy for Popular Unity) MP pic.twitter.com/gowLD9aeFd — Help Catalonia 🎗 (@CataloniaHelp1) December 7, 2018
19 people wounded tonight in Terrassa, Catalonia, in a rally against Spanish Fascist party Vox attacked by the police with extreme brutality. One of the wounded is a CUP (Candidacy for Popular Unity) MP pic.twitter.com/gowLD9aeFd
— Help Catalonia 🎗 (@CataloniaHelp1) December 7, 2018
Photos and videos posted online showed pro-independence protesters gathering in Girona and Terrassa where they were met by police. Several hundred people took part, according to reports. One person was arrested in Girona and around 20 were injured, including 15 police officers while Maria Sirvent, a CUP politician, was wounded and two people were detained in Terrassa.
Where #Bolivia #Scotland & #Catalonia meet together in a unity in one body. Bolivia, Escocia y Cataluña se unen en unidad en mi propio cuerpo. La sensación de un hogar internacional es donde quiera que vaya, para ser aceptado en cualquier lugar, con pensamientos @evoespueblo ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/SH8FZJBXRB — Joanna (@JaeRaePhoto) December 6, 2018
Where #Bolivia #Scotland & #Catalonia meet together in a unity in one body. Bolivia, Escocia y Cataluña se unen en unidad en mi propio cuerpo. La sensación de un hogar internacional es donde quiera que vaya, para ser aceptado en cualquier lugar, con pensamientos @evoespueblo ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/SH8FZJBXRB
— Joanna (@JaeRaePhoto) December 6, 2018
Pro-independence protesters were staging counter demonstrations against those organised by the anti-secession Borbonia group, which had the backing of the PP and Vox. Both the CUP and the leftist Esquerra Republicana de Cataluña (ERC) have called on Catalan Generalitat Interior spokesperson Miquel Buch to investigate the clashes. Andreu Martinez, head of the Mossos d’ Esquadra, said the police response was “correct and adequate” to defend against an “attack” on pro-unity demonstrations.
#Girona ORGULL GIRONI pic.twitter.com/k2lnHgtg5P — Grissom (@Grishom74) December 6, 2018
#Girona ORGULL GIRONI pic.twitter.com/k2lnHgtg5P
— Grissom (@Grishom74) December 6, 2018
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.