15 arrested and 4 injured after public disorder in Barcelona
Disturbances after police attempt to clear crowds during first night of festivities in Sarrià neighborhood
Fifteen people were arrested and four injured on Friday night in Barcelona, with public disorder centered in the Sarrià district of the city, which was celebrating its first night of local festivities, the Festa Major de Sarrià.
When police – both the Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra and Barcelona's Guàrdia Urbana – moved to clear groups of revelers drinking on the streets, some refused to comply, instead building barricades and throwing objects at officers.
A total of eight arrests were made in Sarrià, with seven arrests in other parts of the city, according to the Mossos d'Esquadra.
Catalan police say they have opened an investigation to identify, locate and arrest other people who "took advantage" of the crowds gathered to commit criminal acts, including launching objects at police.
Crowds also congregated to drink alcohol on Barceloneta beach. The night passed off relatively calmly, but some robberies were reported in the early hours of the morning.
Mass on-street drinking parties
Last weekend, during the Catalan capital's Mercè festival, there were dozens of arrests and injuries after police clashed with some of the thousands of people who were drinking on the streets.
Around 40,000 gathered near Plaça Espanya last Friday for a mass on-street drinking party, known locally as 'botellón', while on Saturday there were incidents of vandalism and looting at Bogatell beach.