Dramatic pictures from Saturday’s rally show officers in riot gear facing off with pro-independence protesters before unleashing batons on them.
The clashes apparently started as someone in the crowd threw bags filled with paint at the cordon. The bags were brought to the site for Hindu Holi festival organized by Arran, the youth branch of the pro-Catalan independence Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party. The group earlier called on supporters to “drown” police in paint and decry the “violence” that took place during the independence vote last year.
Catalan regional police 'Mossos D'Esquadra' © Pau Barrena / AFP
The unrest comes just ahead of the anniversary of the Catalan independence referendum, which took place on October 1, 2017. The vote was marred by multiple scenes of police violence against voters, leaving nearly 900 people injured. The police brutality was condemned by multiple officials and rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch.
Protesters throw coloured powder towards Mossos d'Esquadra © Jon Nazca / Reuters
More about:
