Night of unrest as protesters clash with police - live updates
Pro-independence demonstrations in Barcelona and major Catalan towns descend into turmoil as barricades set on fire
Barcelona and some major towns in Catalonia were hit by a night of unrest on Tuesday as peaceful pro-independence demonstrations later descended into turmoil. Protesters clashed with police and set barricades on fire on the second day of widespread protests over the sentencing of 9 Catalan leaders for the 2017 independence bid. At least 25 people were arrested and 74 received medical treatment.
The Catalan vice president, Pere Aragonès, urged pro-independence supporters to distance themselves from "violent attitudes", and implied that the altercations could be used as an excuse in Madrid to impose direct rule on Catalonia. In turn, the Spanish government lamented the "widespread violence" and promised to guarantee "civil coexistance". Barcelona mayor Ada Colau called the use of fire barricades "unacceptable" and warned that "they put citizens at risk".